INTERNATIONAL matchmaker Sean Gibbons warned World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. not to underestimate his title defense against fellow Filipino Reymart “The Assassin” Gaballo on December 11 at the Dignity Health Sports Arena in Carson, California.
Donaire, according to Gibbons, has been thinking of a rematch with International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight unified Japanese champion Naoya Inoue ahead of his date with Gaballo.
“All good things must come to an end, and all great things have a beginning,” Gibbons told BusinessMirror on Friday. “And on December 11, Raymart Gaballo will be coming out of a party. Donaire should not look past Gaballo.”
“He [Donaire] is thinking of Inoue,” he added.
Gaballo, 25, is unbeaten in 25 fights with 20 knockouts. He has Cuban Osmiri Fernandez as head trainer and is coming off a split decision victory over Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez last December 19 in Connecticut.
The 38-year-old Donaire (41-6 win-loss record with 27 knockouts) became the oldest bantamweight champion after he knocked out cold Nordine Oubaali of France in the fourth round last May 29 to capture the WBC belt.
“But I have all the big respect for Donaire as a great fighter and as world champion many times,” Gibbons said. “We must know if Reymart is real or if he is just another guy. It’s an honor to step in or pass the torch from a great Filipino champion.”
The fight was finalized by the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) of Al Haymon and will be aired live through Showtime.