NONITO Donaire Jr. kept Father Time impressively at bay again yesterday, knocking out upset-conscious and younger compatriot Reymart Gaballo in the fourth round to retain his World Boxing Council bantamweight crown and set a new milestone in his storied career.
Donaire unleashed a lethal left hook near the end of the fourth round to the body of Gaballo, who went down on his knees and valiantly but vainly tried to rise, as veteran referee Sergio Mora decided the challenger was in no shape to continue.
“The Filipino Flash” ran around the ring then jumped on the ropes in joyful triumph but was quick to go back to console the glassy-eyed Gaballo, who remained on the canvas for some time until he was lifted to his feet by his handlers at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.
It was the second straight knockout win for Donaire who, at 39, achieved a new record as the oldest reigning world bantamweight champion at the expense of an opponent who was undefeated and 14 years younger.
He was successful in his first defense of the title he took from erstwhile unbeaten Frenchman Nordine Oubaali with a fourth-round stoppage last May 29 at the same fight venue and raised his record to 42 wins, 28 by knockout, against six losses.
A native of General Santos City, Gaballo, 25, suffered his loss in 25 fights.
“I thought he was going to get up because he has a lot of heart, but that was a tremendous punch that (I) landed,” Donaire said. “I just told him not to be down because he’s a great fighter. I think he fought a great fight but our strategy was better.
“I had trouble figuring him out and I’m here to help him out and I’m here to help him with anything he needs the rest of his career.”
Donaire said his next goal is to unify all the belts in the tough weight division, including another crack at dreaded Japanese tormentor Naoya Inoue, who holds both the World Boxing Association super bantamweight and International Boxing Federation bantamweight titles.
“My future will be one belt, two belts, three belts, four belts, and , of course, the person who makes that happen will be Richard (Schaeffer),” Donaire said of his longtime promoter, who sat by his side together with his wife, manager-trainer Rachel, at the post-match conference.
Schaeffer was quick to note with amusement that while the arena was filled with Filipinos rooting for both Donaire and Gaballo “you could hear two tiny voices yelling body shots, body shots,” who turned out to be Donaires’s two young children.
