Nonito Donaire (left) and Reymart Gaballo (right) engage in a staredown after their weigh-in for their world title showdown on Saturday, December 11 (Sunday December 12 Manila Time) in Carson City, California. | Photo from Sanman Promotions Facebook Page
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The all-Filipino world title duel between the reigning and defending WBC world bantamweight king, Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire, and interim world champion, Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo, is officially on after both ring warriors passed the official weigh-in today, Friday, December 10 (Saturday Manila Time, Dec. 12).
Donaire, a four-division world champion, tipped the weighing scales at 117.2 pounds while Gaballo was a bit lighter at 117 lbs.
Their bout will be held tomorrow, December 11, Saturday (Sunday, Manila Time), at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson,California as the main event for Premier Boxing Champions.
After successfully making the official weight, both boxers flexed their ripped physique that is the result of months of training.
They went on with the usual staredown while clutching their respective belts on their shoulders with Donaire’s promoter, Richard Schaefer of Probellum posing for the cameras in the middle between them.
It will be Donaire’s first title defense after dethroning French-Moroccan Nourdine Oubaali in April this year.
Meanwhile, Gaballo, Sanman Boxing Gym’s top boxer earned the interm world title in a very close split decision in December 2020.
In terms of experience, Donaire is by far the most accomplished boxer. At 39, Donaire continues to defy age. His record of 41 wins, 6 defeats with 27 knockouts speaks for itself.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Gaballo is undefeated with 24 wins and 20 knockouts.
Donaire is an inch taller over Gaballo at 5-foot-7 while the latter’s height is 5-foot-6. Both boxers have the same reach at 68 inches.
In the undercard, former WBO world bantamweight champion Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales and his opponent Hiroaki Teshigawara of Japan also passed the official weigh-in for their world title eliminator bout.
Tapales (34-3, 17 knockouts) who also fights under Sanman Promotions’ banner weighed in at 121.6 lbs while Teshigawara (22-2-2, 15 KOs) tipped the scales at 121.6 lbs.
They will fight for the IBF world super-bantamweight title eliminator.
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