Filipino boxer Reymart Gaballo beat Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez via split decision to stay undefeated, and clinch the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim bantamweight title on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
The judges scored 116-112 and 115-113 in favor of Gaballo, and 118-110 in favor of Rodriguez.
The Polomolok, South Cotabato pride Gaballo put pressure on Rodriguez from beginning to end, bloodying the nose of the Puerto Rican in the fourth round. Gaballo’s most telling shot came in the ninth round when he shook Rodriguez with a left hook at the 1:08 mark.
Rodriguez, in the 10th round, caught Gaballo with a nifty right counter-punch, driving the Filipino off-balance.
“I’m happy I won the fight. I’m not supposed to fight here, it was originally my idol Nonito Donaire. I’m very happy because I got this opportunity. I’m so blessed because I won. Thank you to all the supporters especially to the Filipinos,” Gaballo said in Filipino in the post-fight presser.
Gaballo, a last-minute replacement for Nonito Donaire Jr. who was forced to withdraw from the fight after initially testing positive for the coronavirus, has stretched his unbeaten run to 24 fights.
Rodriguez’s win-loss record slid to a 19-2.
According to Compubox, the 28-year-old Rodriguez connected with 109 of his 372 total punches thrown for 29 percent, whereas the 24-year-old Gaballo only landed 93 of his 520 punches thrown for 18 percent.
Of the power punches thrown, Rodriguez hit 64 of 181 for 35 percent, while Gaballo scored 68 of 323 for 21 percent.
It was Rodriguez’s second straight defeat.
Gaballo said he is ready to fight anyone but for now, he is eager to return home to the Philippines.
“I am waiting only for my boss for what they plan for me but now I need to continue training so I’m always ready to fight again. I think I’m gonna go back to the Philippines because I miss my country, too.”
Gaballo could fight next bantamweight champion in recess Nordine Oubaali
Oubaali, who holds a pristine 17-0 record, was the original opponent of Donaire, but the 34-year-old French boxer pulled out of the fight after testing positive for Covid-19 last November. That prompted the WBC to replace him with Rodriguez. But Donaire, too, eventually tested positive for Covid-19 and was replaced by Gaballo on a short notice.