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Nonito Donaire Defends WBC Bantamweight Title With Fourth
Round Knockout Over Reymart Gaballo
Photos: Esther Lin - SHOWTIME
WBC Bantamweight World
Champion and future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire scored a
fourth-round knockout over previously unbeaten Reymart
Gaballo to successfully defend his title in the SHOWTIME
main event Saturday night headlining a Premier Boxing
Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson,
Calif.
In an all-Filipino battle, Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs) continued
to build up his Hall of Fame resume, landing his signature
left hook, this time to the body, to eventually end the
fight. Gaballo (24-1, 20 KOs) came out employing a high
guard, clearly working to avoid that vaunted left hook.
"I've been in this game for such a long time and I've had so
many fights, I didn't think I was going to have to feel him
out,” said Donaire. “But he came out differently than I
thought he would. He tried to nullify my left hook, but I
just had to have no mercy.”
The four-division world champion in his second reign at 118
pounds, Donaire was able to remain patient as he searched
for an opening for his preferred attack. Heeding the advice
from his corner, Donaire found his spot for the left hook in
the fourth round, connecting to the body and putting Gaballo
down late in the round.
"My wife and my dad were telling me to go to the body,” said
Donaire. “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.”
While Gaballo was able to momentarily rise to his feet after
the blow, he quickly retreated back to the floor, prompting
referee Ray Corona to halt the bout 2:59 seconds into the
round.
"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,”
said Donaire. “I just told him after the fight not to be
down. Because he's a great fighter. I had trouble figuring
him out and I'm here to help him with anything he needs the
rest of his career.”
With his first defense of the WBC title under his belt, the
39-year-old Donaire will now seek a rematch against unified
bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, after their 2019 Fight of
the Year clash.
"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."
In the co-main event, Cody Crowley (20-0, 9 KOs) was able to
overcome an early knockdown to defeat Kudratillo
Abdukakhorov (18-1, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision in a
10-round battle of unbeaten welterweight contenders.
“I rate my performance a ‘B’ tonight,” said Crowley. “He was
a tough competitor, the former IBF No. 1 contender. I was
going in the underdog so I knew I was going to have to bring
the fight to him the whole time. I knew that he was going to
run and stop and pop with awkward shots. I was prepared for
that.”
The action-packed fight heated up early, as Crowley landed a
powerful left hand in round two that appeared to buckle the
knees of his opponent. However, the top-rated IBF contender
Abdukakhorov was able to connect with a straight left power
jab that landed flush on an unsuspecting Crowley and put him
on the mat with 30 seconds left in the round.
“I have a granite chin,” said Crowley. “That was the first
time I have been dropped. It’s the first time my knee has
ever touched the canvas, in sparring or in a fight. But I
was not hurt and I got right back up.”
Despite the knockdown, Crowley was undeterred and continued
to impose his aggressive style, stalking Abdukakhorov around
the ring and peppering him with shots to the body and right
hooks to the head. Abdukakhorov was able to land powerful
counter punches and held a 31% to 23% lead in punch
accuracy, but was unable to overcome the nonstop activity
from Crowley.
The Canadian Crowley threw 898 punches across the 10 rounds,
out landing his opponent 206 to 123, including a 182 to 99
edge in power punches. Crowley closed the fight strong,
landing over 20 power punches per round in each of the final
four frames on his way to victory by the scores of 98-91,
97-92 and 96-94.
“When I come to fight it’s going to be a helluva fight,”
said Crowley. “It’s going to be a dog fight and you are
going to see blood. You are going to see guys go down.”
Unbeaten rising contender Brandun Lee (24-0, 22 KOs)
delivered a spectacular seventh-round knockout over Juan
Heraldez (16-2-1, 10 KOs) with a devastating straight right
hand that ended their welterweight clash, marking the first
time Lee has gone past four rounds as a pro.
"I have to watch the fight back but my dad (trainer Bobby
Lee) didn't like my performance,” said Lee. “He's a
perfectionist. Everyone here thought I would take Juan out
earlier, but I wanted to show everyone I can box.”
The 22-year-old was impressive from the outset, landing a
powerful stunning overhand right on Heraldez in round one
that set the tone for the rest of the fight. Heraldez was
able to have moments of success with counter left hooks and
attempted to keep the powerful Lee away from him with jabs,
throwing 129 throughout the fight.
After several closer rounds following the first, Lee began
to pick up the pace again in round five, mixing in a body
attack that quickly opened up Heraldez’s head for more power
punches. By round seven, Lee had full control of the bout
and was able to land the decisive blow, distracting Heraldez
with a left hand before firing the straight right hand that
put Heraldez down.
"I kept seeing that Juan was moving to his right and my
right hand was coming up short,” said Lee. “So I knew I had
to jab and box him and make him forget about that right
hand. Then I made the adjustment in the seventh round and
got him out of there.”
Referee Gerard White eventually waved off the count, halting
the contest at 2:11 into the seventh round. This victory
marked 15 consecutive knockouts for Lee as he continues his
rise toward a possible world title shot.
"I’m ready for anyone,” said Lee. “It's ultimately up to my
team, but I say bring them on."
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