Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


De La Vega: Donaire-Gaballo Postscript


PhilBoxing.com



Donaire (R) comforts fallen compatriot Gaballo.
The all-Filipino title fight between WBC champion Nonito Donaire Jr and his challenger Raymart Gaballo held last Saturday night, December 11, 2021 at the famed Dignity Health Center, left some impressions worth talking about.

First and foremost, the event was pure class, at least in so far as the fighters were concerned. There was no trash talking to generate interest to the fight unlike when WBO champion John Reil Casimero challenged Donaire to unify the bantamweight belts. We all know how that proposed fight went. It never happened!

The description of “pure class” was further demonstrated when Donaire knelt next to Gaballo soon after he knocked him out with a wicked left hook to the liver, to comfort him and perhaps show his compassion for the fallen countryman. What made the scene so poignant was Gaballo’s handler, JC Mananquil the CEO of San Man Promotions in the Philippines, witnessed it.

What a demonstration of classic sportsmanship from Nonito Donaire, Jr!


Gaballo's manager JC Manangquil (L) looks on as Donaire comforts Gaballo.

Then there was the weather.

I always find it amusing why promoters pick open-air venues during wintertime. Someone said that perhaps it’s cheaper to rent that kind of a venue during wintertime, when business is not too brisk when it’s cold and dreary. But what do we know?


The sparse crowd who attend the Donaire-Gaballo fight at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The Dignity Health Sports Center is an awesome place for boxing during spring and summer. But during winter, the place is too cold for an open-air boxing event at night.

When Donaire and Gaballo finally got to the ring to initiate the main event that was seen live on ShowTime PPV, the temperature was 53°F (11.6°C). The poor crowd that waited between fights was literally shivering in the cold. And, the fights did not come successively. There was some wait time in between sometimes lasting more than 20 minutes. On the other side of the coin, the long wait allowed more time to buy beer!

Maybe to one of the fighters in the card, Canadian Cody Crowley, the temperature did not mean much as it often times gets below freezing in some places in Canada. No doubt 53°F is mincemeat to Crowley.

In addition, there was the obvious absence of Philippine-based media.

There could be two reasons for this. Perhaps the event is no big deal to the Philippine local media folks so they did not spend extra efforts to come unlike when Manny Pacquiao fights in the US. But, as one pundit stated, the fighters involved, unlike Pacquiao, did not provide free round trip flight tickets and hotel rooms.

In retrospect, perhaps the real reason they didn’t come was to avoid the hassles of travelling during these times when the coronavirus still reign supreme all over the world.

Finally, the absence of the home-based Pinoy media was not as glaring as the absence of the hordes of US-based “boxing-fans” that are often seen when Pacquiao fights in the US. As another pundit stated, “Pacmania is over and thus there were no free tickets to give away for the fight”

In fact, one joke that was stated goes as follows: “How do you recognize a Filipino boxing fan from a Latino amongst those folks outside the venue?”

Answer: The Latinos are those in line to buy tickets, the Filipinos are those in line waiting for free tickets.”

Had it not been for the Latino crowd that came and supporters of the fighters on the undercard, the venue would have been pathetically empty. There were so few true Filipino boxing fans to speak of that came and bought their tickets. And, there were also a handful wearing “credentials” but obviously had no role in the fight except to get a free access to the venue.’


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.