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Boxing: Donaire encourages Gaballo after fight -- 'Don't be down'

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Reymart Gaballo is consoled by Nonito Donaire with referee Ray Corona after a third round knockout loss to Donaire for the WBC World Bantamweight Championship at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 11, 2021 in Carson, California. Harry How, Getty Images/AFP" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/tvpatrol/12/13/donaire-gaballo.jpg"/><figcaption>Reymart Gaballo is consoled by Nonito Donaire with referee Ray Corona after a third round knockout loss to Donaire for the WBC World Bantamweight Championship at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 11, 2021 in Carson, California. <em>Harry How, Getty Images/AFP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Nonito Donaire believes great things are on the horizon for Reymart Gaballo, after &quot;The Filipino Flash&quot; emerged triumphant in their bantamweight clash in Carson, California yesterday.</p><p>Donaire handed Gaballo the first loss of his professional career when he knocked out the younger Filipino in the fourth round via a perfectly-placed body shot. The impressive win allowed Donaire to retain his WBC bantamweight title.</p><p>Gaballo, who was the mandatory challenger to Donaire&#x27;s belt, tried to get up before the 10-count was over but had to kneel once more while grimacing in pain. The referee stopped the fight with just a second left in the fourth round.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/12/21/boxing-donaire-kos-gaballo-to-retain-wbc-title">READ: Donaire KOs Gaballo to retain WBC title</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I thought he was gonna get up,&quot; Donaire admitted afterward. &quot;I know he has a lot of heart.&quot;</p><p>&quot;But that was a very tremendous punch that landed on him,&quot; he added.</p><p>Donaire had a quick celebration, briefly climbing the ring ropes to show his appreciation for the crowd. It lasted for just a few moments before Donaire approached Gaballo, who was still down in the middle of the ring. </p><p>According to the 39-year-old fighter, he offered words of encouragement to the younger Filipino.</p><p>&quot;I told him, don&#x27;t be down, you&#x27;re a great fighter. I was actually having trouble figuring you out, you&#x27;re a great fighter. Don&#x27;t never get down,&quot; Donaire revealed.</p><p>&quot;Whatever I can do to help, I&#x27;m right here. I promise you that,&quot; he also said of his message to Gaballo.</p><p>On Twitter, Donaire said that the 25-year-old Gaballo had earned his respect, calling him &quot;a warrior.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Thank you for sharing the ring with me,&quot; Donaire said. &quot;I am humbled by the way you really brought the fight. I wish to see you as a world champion someday.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Know if you need me, I&#x27;ll be there,&quot; he added. &quot;You have my respect, and my friendship.&quot;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Reymart, u are a warrior, strong, smart, @&amp; talented. Thank you for sharing the ring w/ me. I am humbled by the way you really brought the fight. I wish to see you as a world champion someday. Know if you need me, I&#x27;ll be there for you 🙏. You have my respect...and my friendship <a href="https://t.co/AO50kjPGfL">pic.twitter.com/AO50kjPGfL</a></p>— Nonito Donaire (@filipinoflash) <a href="https://twitter.com/filipinoflash/status/1470066068152471556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Gaballo entered the bout with a 24-0 win-loss record, the most recent of which was a controversial split decision win over Puerto Rico&#x27;s Emmanuel Rodríguez in December 2020, which made him the interim WBC bantamweight champion. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/20/20/boxing-gaballo-is-interim-champ-after-shock-decision-win-over-rodriguez]">READ: Gaballo is interim champ after shock decision win over Rodriguez</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1859940" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Nonito Donaire believes great things are on the horizon for Reymart Gaballo, after 'The Filipino Flash' won their bantamweight clash.

Boxing: Donaire encourages Gaballo after fight -- 'Don't be down'

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Boxing: Donaire encourages Gaballo after fight -- 'Don't be down'

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 13, 2021 03:45 PM PHT

Read More:

boxing

Nonito Donaire

Reymart Gaballo

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