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REYMART Gaballo’s aggressiveness paid off yesterday when he scored a split decision victory over Puerto Rican veteran Emmanuel Rodriguez to clinch the World Boxing Council interim bantamweight crown at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
As a last-minute replacement for former world champion Nonito Donaire, who was forced to retire after testing positive for COVID-19, Gaballo seized the opportunity to the hilt, stalking the crafty Rodriguez from start to finish to earn the nod of two. . of the three judges.
Don Trella and John McKaje scored 116-112 and 115-113, respectively, for the Pinoy fighter, while David Sutherland saw it 118-110 for the Puerto Rican, who looked stunned by the result after holding his rival at bay during most of the time. Fight with your skill in the ring and fight back.
Gaballo, 24, was undefeated in 24 fights, with 20 knockouts, joining the ranks of illustrious champions General Santos City, including World Boxing Association super welterweight kingpin Manny Pacquiao and former heavyweight champion. super featherweight of WBC Rolando Navarrete.
Gaballo came close to a possible clash with Frenchman Nordine Ouubaali, who holds the WBC regular bantamweight headband and was originally set to fight Donaire on the Premier Boxing Champions undercard poster, but was infected earlier with the new coronavirus. .
Rodriguez, 28, absorbed his second loss in 19 fights, the other coming from Japanese “Monster” Naoya Inoue, who knocked him out in the second round when they fought for the International Boxing Federation bantamweight title on May 18. 2019 at the SSE Hydro. in Glasgow, Scotland.
“I’m so happy. So blessed by this blessing. I’m so happy now because it’s really not me who said this and my idol Nonito Donaire,” Gaballo exclaimed about his good luck in the post-match interview. I was so happy and they gave me the opportunity. “
He added that he had clasped his palms together and then looked up at the sky and said “Thank you, Lord” immediately after the result was announced, virtually admitting that it took him by surprise.
“It was too close, but I always (moved) forward. So I was very happy (with the result), said Gaballo, who fights out of the Sanman Promotions stable owned by promoter Jean Claude Mananquil.
Showtime boxing analyst and former super welterweight world champion Raúl Márquez saw it upside down, saying: “There is no way Gaballo would win that fight. In the worst case, you could have given it three rounds. I didn’t give him rounds. “
Gaballo said he was leaving his future to his managers and expressed the desire to return to his hometown after eight months in the United States, mainly in Miami, Florida, under the watchful eye of Cuban coach Moro Fernández.
“I leave it to my bosses, whatever plans they have for me. I need to continue my training. But I miss my hometown. I was in Miami for eight months, ”he said.
Gaballo brought the fight to Rodríguez from the opening bell, aiming to land the big punch that took away 20 of his previous victims, but his foe proved to be cunning, dancing around the ring while occasionally connecting with forehand and counterpunches. .
