Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo of Gen. Santos City. (PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY -- Undefeated Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo of General Santos City will replace Nonito Donaire Jr. to face former IBF bantamweight titleholder Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez of Puerto Rico on Dec. 19 at the Showtime Championship Boxing card, live from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Donaire's replacement came after he was found positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
JC Manangquil, president of the Sanman Boxing Promotions, said Gaballo (23W-0L, 20K0s) "has long been waiting for this chance. This is it."
Gaballo won the vacant World Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council super bantamweight title by knocking out Manot Comput of Thailand in the 1st round on Sept. 10, 2016 in Tupi, South Cotabato.
Gaballo then grabbed the interim World Boxing Association World bantamweight title from Stephon Young of the USA on March 23, 2018 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood.
However, Gaballo failed to make a title defense in 2019 and lost the belt.
He was supposed to face orthodox Jose “Pancora” Velasquez of Chile for the vacant World Boxing Association Interim World Bantamweight championship.
But luck could be on the side of Gaballo, who will now fight for the WBC bantamweight title against Rodriguez. (PNA)
