Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire (R) celebrates after knocking out French boxer Nordine Oubaali after winning the Bantamweight World Championship boxing match at Dignity Health Sports Park on May 29, 2021 in Carson, California. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)C
MANILA, Philippines — The all-Filipino bantamweight world title fight between WBC champion Nonito Donaire and challenger Reymart Gaballo is penciled in for December 11 in Carson, California.
The bout, which will serve as the main event of a tripleheader on Showtime, was mandatory as ordered by the WBC, one of four major sanctioning bodies in professional boxing, two months ago.
Donaire won the WBC title after knocking out Frenchman Nordine Oubaali six months ago.
The win put the 38-year-old Donaire in the record books as the oldest bantamweight champion. He turns 39 on November 16.
Gaballo is undefeated at 24-0 with 20KOs but will have a lot to prove in his world title shot after coming off a highly questionable victory in his previous fight.
The 25-year-old Gaballo beat Emmanuel Rodriguez via split decision for the vacant WBC interim belt last December in a fight many believed to have gone in favor of the Puerto Rican.
The controversial result left pundits skeptical of Gaballo, who may not be ripe enough just yet to share the ring with the caliber of Donaire (41-6, 27KOs), who is a four-division champion.