Reymart Gaballo knows what he will be up against in December in the United States.
Well, who doesn’t?
The unbeaten Gaballo is facing a future Hall of Famer in Nonito Donaire for the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight crown.
One thing that stands out is Donaire’s huge advantage in experience, something Gaballo himself admits is a major drawback in his quest to score an upset.
“Donaire has a lot of experience and I respect him so much since he is my idol,” Gaballo, who holds a 24-0 card with 20 knockouts.
“But I am training very hard for this,” he said.
Gaballo has been working out in Miami since August under Cuban tactician Moro Fernandez, who is a strict disciplinarian.
“Sometimes, we train during Sundays,” Gaballo said, noting that Fernandez is deeply concerned about the weight of the boxers training under him.
“But it’s mostly jogging although coach always wants to keep our weight in check all the time.”
Gaballo and Fernandez will have their hands full come fight night.
Though Donaire would already be 39 when the bell rings, the four-division champion remains one of the world’s best pound-for-pound.
In winning the WBC 118-lb title last May, Donaire hardly flexed a muscle in scoring a savage knockout of Frenchman Nordine Oubaali.
Donaire was in talks with the camp of another Filipino puncher, World Boxing Organization titlist John Riel Casimero when the WBC threw a monkey wrench into the plan by naming Gaballo as Donaire’s mandatory.
JC Mananquil, who manages Gaballo, is a bit more vocal than his fighter.
“We will shock the world,” Mananquil said, whose stable boasts of countless world-rated boxers.
