Bantamweight champ Reymart Gaballo demolishes Japanese foe for 2nd round KO

Rising bantamweight Reymart Gaballo. Photo by Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Rising bantamweight Reymart Gaballo had high praise for his Japanese opponent Yuya Nakamura ahead of their 10-round fight.

Gaballo predicted his bout with Nakamura would go the distance.

But it wasn’t even close.

The General Santos City native was too much for Nakamura with Gaballo needing only two rounds of light work to remain unblemished at 21-0, 18 of which by KO in the main event of ESPN5’s fight card Saturday night at Midas Hotel and Casino.

The 22-year-old Gaballo, the WBA interim bantamweight champion, knocked down Nakamura thrice, twice in the first round with an array of punches and the last in the second round in front of the Japanese corner.

Gaballo was just stronger and quicker as he outclassed Nakamura, who had little to show.

Buoyed by the raucous home crowd, Gaballo had bad intentions from the get-go, unleashing combinations that had Nakamura on his heels.