WBC bantamweight champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 42-6 (28) proved he still has plenty left in the tank with a fourth-round knockout of previously undefeated Reymart Gaballo 24-1 (20) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on Saturday night.
Galballo came out aggressively but Donaire patiently waited for counterpunching opportunities. Donaire largely kept his left hook in his pocket for the opening three frames as he worked away with the jab and right hand. Late in the fourth Donaire found the opening, landing a left rip to the body. The punch sent Gaballo to the canvas and while he tried to get up at the count of eight, he immediately sunk back to his knees.
The official time of the stoppage was 2:59.
According to CompuBox, Donaire landed 13 body punches. In the power punch category, Donaire landed 26 of 73 (36%), 10 of them body punches.
After the fight Donaire admitted he had to try to disguise his vaunted left hook.
“He tried to nullify my left hook, but I just had to have no mercy,” he said.
“My wife and my dad were telling me to go to the body. I had to set it up by bouncing up and down to open up that shot. I was throwing the right hand in the earlier rounds and then he didn’t expect the left hook to the body.
“I thought he was going to get up because I know he has a lot of heart, but that was a tremendous punch that landed.”
It is remarkable to think that the 39-year-old Donaire – who won his first world title at flyweight with a fifth-round knockout of Vic Darchinyan in 2007 – turned professional more than two decades ago and continues to perform at the highest level.
Just over two years ago Donaire engaged in the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year when he went 12 rounds in a losing effort against Japanese phemon and reigning WBA and IBF bantamweight champion Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue 21-0 (18).
After being unable to secure a fight in 2020, Donaire returned in May this year to destroy previously undefeated Frenchman Nordine Oubaali 17-1 (12) in four rounds, dropping him four times to claim the WBC belt.
While there has been talk of a unification bout the WBO titleholder John Riel Casimero 31-4 (21) in the past, the plan now is to work on putting a rematch together with Inoue.
“It’s my team’s job to work on the rematch with Inoue,” said Donaire. “I believe my team is going to make it happen.
“I’m able to keep fighting at this age because I just have faith in myself and have a lifestyle that’s good for me. There is no such thing as a cheat day. It’s a choice day and it’s my choice to train and to be me.”
