Fast & Furious Reymart Gaballo Blasts Thai Foe to Retain WBO Oriental Belt, Wants World Champ Jason Moloney Next
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Feb 2024
PASAY CITY, Metro Manila – It could not have been faster! It could not have been more devastating!
In matter of just a few seconds - 18 or 19 or so seconds - Sanman's WBO #1 rated world-ranked Reymart "Assassin" Gaballo (27-1, 22 KO's) of Gensan, had attacked, rocked and disassembled Thailand former titlist Phai Pharob (35-4, 27 KO's), to retain for a 3rd time his WBO Oriental Bantamweight strap on Tuesday, February 13, at the Midas Hotel & Casino in Pasay City, Metro Manila, live on Cignal TV.
With a crushing 3-punch combination: left hook to the head, straight right to the head, and a hellacious left hook to the liver, Gaballo brutalized the Thai warrior Pharob, sending him to the canvas in obvious agony, prompting referee Atty Danrex Tapdasan to wave the battle off, just seconds after the rumble had started.
Fans who wanted a win from Gaballo never expected his victory to be so devastating and so quick. But it was, a stellar triumph for Reymart Gaballo and his team.
His chief cornerman, world renown coach Nonito Donaire Sr., could not be prouder.
The shinning victory reaffirms 27-year-old Reymart Gaballo as the man on the top of the list as the most likely next challenger of Australia's WBO Bantamweight World Champion Jason Moloney (27-2, 19 KO's).
Could Jason Moloney vs Reymart Gaballo happen next?
"That is what we want," says coach Donaire Sr. "We are ready for a shot at the world title."
Importantly, in attendance during Gaballo's televised win were his matchmaker, Las Vegas man of boxing, Sean Gibbons, as well as his manager JC Manangquil, who were absolutely pleased with their fighter's fantastic performance.
Then, could Gibbons and Manangquil be able to indeed secure Moloney vs Gaballo NEXT?
Boxing fans across Pinoyland hope so, seeing Reymart Gaballo as a real threat to the reign of the 33-year-old "Mayhem" Jason Moloney.
As fans might remember, Moloney is the champion who won his WBO world belt by narrowly edging a win over Gensan's man of steel Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KO's) six months ago in Stockton, California.
That was a majority decision for the Aussie Moloney, although some fans think that the Pinoy should have been awarded the nod.
Then, last month, Moloney defended his crown with a hard-fought 12-round majority decision victory over Mexican-American Saul Sanchez (20-3, 12 KO's) in Quebec, Canada.
So, would hard-hitting Reymart Gaballo be able to dethrone Jason Moloney should they ever get to clash, to become a champion of the world again?
CO-MAIN EVENT: KJ CATARAJA DECISIONS TOUGH JUN BLAZO
In the co-feature, world-ranked Super Flyweight KJ Cataraja (17-0, 13 KO's) of the Zip/Sanman stable, did more than enough to claim an 8-round unanimous decision win over tough, Leyteño big-heart warrior Jun "The Blaze" Blazo (16-9-3, 12 KO's) of the Bebot Elorde Gym.
Ranked as WBA #3, IBF # 11 and WBO # 10, KJ Cataraja started accurate and strong, landing on Blazo with an effective jab, straight blows and a variety of well-executed combinations, appearing in control of actions, however losing intensity as the fight progressed, allowing Blazo to take a couple rounds.
KJ, however, regained dominance during the final frame. That's why in the eyes of the judges, Blazo scored a couple of rounds; however, it was the more active KJ Cataraja the far superior fighter and rightful winner.
Even so, some fans expected more from KJ. Many of his fans wanted a stoppage. That did not happen. Nevertheless, a win is a win.
A popular former ALA fighter, KJ Cataraja is currently trained by 44-year-old popular coach former boxer Michael "Bruce Lee" Domingo of Sultan Kudarat.
During his ALA years, the Cebuano KJ was guided by legendary boxing patron don Antonio Aldeguer, and trained by Edito "Ala" Villamor.
Cataraja's win is very likely to improve his standing in the world-rankings.
MORE RESULTS
In a battle of veteran featherweights, "Wolverine" Jon Jon Estrada (18-12-1) of Quezon beat Zamboangueño Alvin "Daredevil" Medura (10-10)
In other result, rookie Chinese welterweight Yesimuhan Yeerken (2-0) defeated Bryan Macamay (10-13-3) of Samar.
Super Lightweights "The Silent Beast" Jino Rodrigo (12-3-2), of Rizal claimed a stoppage victory over veteran "Mekaniko" Monico Laurente (30-22) of Agusan del Sur.
And promising 21-year-old Cebuano featherweight David Santisima (3-0) bested Bulacan southpaw Sandy Volante (2-2-1).
IN ATTENDANCE
In attendance during the evening of boxing was GAB Chairman Attorney Richard Clarin, renown WBA official Silvestre Abainza, IBF international judge Gil Co, Australia promoter Peter Maniatis, Sanman's CFO Dexter "Wangyu" Tan, Pow Salud of Powcast Sports Podcast, and veteran ring official Virgilio Garcia of Nueva Ecija, among many others.
The successful televised event at the Midas Hotel & Casino was a promotion of Viva Promotions and Sean Gibbons' Knuckleheads Boxing in association with Jim Claude "JC" Manangquil's Sanman Boxing, the Midas Hotel & Casino and Cignal TV.
The author, boxing reporter Carlos Costa attended the event at the Midas Hotel. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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