Fighting for Filipino Pride

By James Blears

Legendary multi champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire will have a mandatory defense of the World Boxing Council bantamweight title, against undefeated Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo on Saturday December 11^th at the Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California.

Nonito (41-6, 27 KO`s) is the oldest man to win the title aged thirty eight, overwhelming champion Nordine Oubaali, knocking him down twice with his trademark left hook  in the third, and then felling him with a pinpoint left uppercut in the fourth. He`s in his third reign as bantamweight champion. As Nonito triumphantly declared: “The King has returned!”

Nonito who`s now thirty nine, has been a pro fighter for twenty extraordinary years, is a four division world Champion from flyweight to featherweight.

The list of boxers he`s defeated reads as a roll call who`s who, of modern greats in the lower divisons: Vic Darchinyan twice, Fernando Montiel, Jorge Arce, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, Omar Andres Narvaez, Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka and Stephon Young.

But, one of Nonito`s greatest fights was against Naoya “Monster” Inoue, who retained his WBA and IBF bantamweight titles by UD, also winning the WBSS Muhammad Ali Trophy.   But… it took a titanic effort and the fight of his life to achieve.  Nonito severely cut him over the right eye with a short left hook in the second round, and then gave him a nose bleed.

Naoya, who`s of a slimmer build, used his dazzling speed and firepower to win. His youth was telling  in the last three rounds, so much so that after a torrid tenth, he decked the sturdy but tiring veteran in the eleventh with a thunderbolt left to the liver. Nonito, who jogged away suffering a painful delayed reaction, before going down and bravely getting up, had  to use all of his experience, conditioning  and steadfast courage to survive the ensuing onslaught typhoon.

Such was the level of respect of Naoya,  that after the final bell, he went over to Nonito`s corner where “Flash” was sensibly sitting down, and knelt in front of him for a second hug of mutual admiration and deep respect.  Naoya later revealed he`s sustained a broken nose and fractured right eye socket. Fortunately neither needing surgery.

Nonito, is still a force of nature to be reckoned with. He can fight ferociously and he can box beautifully. He can effectively operate on the back foot or the front foot. Lead or counterpunch. His power is still all there and he has banked so much accumulated boxing wisdom.  Yet, he`s fourteen years older than Reymart Gaballo, who turned pro in 2014.  His record is 24-0, with 20 KO`s.

Reymart who always likes to come forward, did well to win the WBA Interim bantamweight title against southpaw Stephon Young knocking him down in the third, and winning a UD. Nonito has since KO`d southpaw Young for the WBC Diamond and WBA bantamweight titles.

More recently and just prior to this upcoming fight Reymart navigated his way through a difficult test against former IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez, to win the vacant WBC Interim belt. Rodriguez, who`d previously been KO`d by Inoue, regrouped to prove a worthy opponent, counter punching economically but effectively.  Reymart`s non stop aggression won him a split decision.  It`s also hopefully smoothed off some his rough edges.  Rodriguez was moving around a lot, using silky defensive skills against Reymart, but in contrast, Nonito will be actively looking for him and applying a lot more intense and attacking pressure.

Reymart`s team are channeling his natural power which is considerable and a marked asset, combined with his relative youth. But, he must jab more decisively and hone his boxing skills, because Nonito would ruthlessly punish any stylistic lapses.

Reymart has to use that strength and stamina, to try and drag Nonito into the deeper water of the later rounds where his youth can prove decisive.  For his part, Nonito must strictly use his boxing professorship and sagely apply his power, especially that famous left hook, to make a telling impact.  The rock of ages is better applied earlier, in this scenario.

It`s a contest aptly balance with the vitality and strength of youth against the wisdom and subtlety of experience entwined with a dose of ivy longevity power. It isn`t often that two Filipinos fight each other with a world Title at stake.  The pride this will generate, will make it even more thrilling.

Another Filipino John Riel Casimero who`s WBO bantamweight champion, was scheduled to fight Nonito in August, but at the end of June, this fell through.

Has Reymart`s chance come to early and does Nonito have yet another vintage performance in his repertoire reservoir?  Or, will fresher Reymart who`s almost a decade and a half younger, be able to make Nonito age appreciably and suddenly grow old, during their fascinating encounter? Not long to wait and see!

   WORLD BOXING COUNCIL STATS

Jose Sulaimán

WBC HONORARY POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME PRESIDENT (+) 

Mauricio Sulaimán

WBC PRESIDENT

WBC BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK

 CARSON, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 11, 2021

 TV: SHOWTIME

THIS WILL BE THE WBC’S 2, 124 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE   FIGHT   IN   THE   FIFTY-EIGHT YEAR HISTORY OF THE WBC

TOM BROWN & TGB PROMOTIONS, PRESENTS:

NONITO DONAIRE (Philippines)

WBC CHAMPION

Date of Birth:    November 16, 1982

Birthplace:        Taliban, Bohol, Philippines

Resides:            Las Vegas, Nevada

Record:             41-6-0, 27 ko’s

KO’S%:           57.5%

Age:                  39

Guard:             Orthodox

World Titles fights:   24 (19-5-0)

Total rounds:    293

Manager:          Cameron Dunkin

Promoter:      Ringstar Sports

REYMART GABALLO  (Philippines)

WBC no. 1/ Official Challenger

Date of Birth:    August 24, 1996

Birthplace: Polomolok, Cotabato del Sur

Resides: Gral. Santos City, Cotabato del Sur

Record:             24-0-0, 20 ko’s

KO’S%:           83.4%

Age:                  25

Guard:             Orthodox

World Titles fights:   2 (2-0-0)

Total rounds:    73

Manager:          Osmiri Fernández

Promoter:      Sanman Promotions

WBC´S BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

NAME                                                          PERIOD AS  CHAMPION

1. EDER JOFRE (BRA) 1963 – 1965
2. MASAHIKO HARADA (JAP) 1965 – 1968
3. LIONEL ROSE (AUST) 1968 – 1969
4. RUBEN OLIVARES (MEX) 1969 – 1970
5. CHUCHO CASTILLO (MEX) 1970 – 1971
6. RUBEN OLIVARES (MEX) * 1971 – 1972
7. RAFAEL HERRERA (MEX) 1972
8. ENRIQUE PINDER (PAN) 1972
9. RAFAEL HERRERA (MEX) * 1973 – 1974
10. RODOLFO MARTINEZ (MEX) 1974 – 1976
11. CARLOS ZARATE (MEX) 1976 – 1979
12. LUPE PINTOR (MEX) 1979 – 1982
13. ALBERT DAVILA (US) 1983 – 1984
14. DANIEL ZARAGOZA (MEX) 1985
15. MIGUEL LORA (COL) 1985 – 1988
16. RAUL PEREZ (MEX) 1988 – 1991
17. GREG RICHARDSON (US) 1991
18. JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI (JAP) 1991 – 1993
19. VICTOR RABANALES (MEX) (INTERIM) 1992 – 1993
20. JUNGIL BYUN (KOR) 1993
21. JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI (JAP) (INTERIM)* 1993 – 1994
22. YASUEI YAKUSHIJI (JAP) 1993 – 1995
23. WAYNE MCCULLOUGH (IRE) 1995 – 1996
24. SIRIMONGKOL SINGMANASSUK (THA) 1996 – 1997
25. JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI (JAP) * 1997 – 1998
26. VEERAPHOL NAKHONLUANG (THA) 1998 – 2005
27. HOZUMI HASEGAWA (JAPAN) 2005 – 2010
28. FERNANDO MONTIEL (MEXICO) 2010 – 2011
29. NONITO DONARIE (PHIL) 2011
30. SHINSUKE YAMANAKA (JAPAN) 2011 – 2017
31. LUIS NERY (MEXICO) 2017 – 2018
32. NORDINE OUBAALI (FRANCE) 2019 – 2021
33. NONITO DONARIE (PHIL) * 2021 –

*REGAINED

WBC´S BANTAMWEIGHT TOP TEN CHAMPIONS

1. CARLOS ZARATE (MEXICO)
2. EDER JOFRE (BRAZIL)
3. RUBEN OLIVARES (MEXICO)
4. RAFAEL HERRERA (MEXICO)
5. VEERAPHOL NAKHONLUANG (THAI)
6. JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI (JAPAN)
7. JUNGIL BYUN (KOREA)
8. YASUEI YAKUSHIJI (JAPAN)
9. HOZUMI HASEGAWA (JAPAN)
10. SHINSUKE YAMANAKA (JAPAN)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

 29 WORLD CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE WBC

OF WHICH ONLY 3 HAVE REGAINED THEIR TITLE:

RUBEN OLIVARES (MEXICO)               TWICE

RAFAEL HERRERA (MEXICO)               TWICE

NONITO DONAIRE (PHILIPPINES)         TWICE

JOICHIRO TATSUYOSHI (JAPAN)          THREE TIMES

167 TITLE FIGHTS IN THE BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION HAVE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC.

THIS WILL BE THE 50^th. TITLE FIGHT OF WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN UNITED STATES IN BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

WORLD BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY IN WBC HISTORY

JAPAN                          61

U.S.A.                            49

MEXICO                       20

THAILAND                   14

COLOMBIA                  4

FRANCE                       3

SOUTH KOREA            2

PANAMA                      2

AUSTRALIA                  2

SPAIN                           1

SCOTLAND                  1

RUSSIA                         1

PUERTO RICO             1

PHILIPPINES              1

NORTH IRELAND        1

KAZAKHSTAN              1

IRELAND                      1

ARUBA                          1

CHILE                          1

TOTAL             167

WBC TITLE FIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA STATE INTHE WBC HISTORY

238 WORLD TITLE FIGHTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE WBC HISTORY

29 TITLE FIGHTS IN THE BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC AND THIS WILL BE THE 239 WBC TITLE FIGHTS IN CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

FIGHTS BY DIVISION IN CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE WBC HISTORY

BANTAM                                     29

SUPERBANTAM                         27

WELTER                                     24

LIGHT                                        22

SUPERFEATHER                       22

FEATHER                                   20

SUPERLIGHT                             16

SUPERFLY                                 16

SUPERWELTER                         14

LT. FLY                                         12

HEAVY                                        8

MIDDLE                                     8

SUPERMIDDLE                          6

LT. HEAVY                                5

FLY                                             4

CRUISER                                     3

STRAW                                        2

                           TOTAL FIGHTS            238