Veteran Nonito Donaire will take on undefeated challenger and kababayan Reymart Gaballo for Donaire's WBC bantamweight title at the Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California on Saturday night.
Looking back at Donaire's (41-6-0, 27 KOs) spectacular performance against Naoya Inoue in November 2019 and his strong come back against Nordine Oubaali in May this year, I think this fight will be good only till Gaballo last.
Donaire, now 39 years old, definitely not at his best but the vast experience and with that still potent left hook intact, I think Donaire still has that edge over the younger, less-experienced Gaballo. Donaire's experience extends not only inside the ring but also how to handle pressure from big events. To be in a huge crowd could bring too much pressure to a fighter not getting used to it.
Donaire was ask about how he will handle Gaballo's power --- he referred to his experience.
"The thing about being experienced is we have no fear of it, (referring to Gaballo's power) I believed that we are only as strong as our mind and so I know that I am 100% because I have a purpose. And that purpose is to becoming the undisputed champion of the world," said Donaire.
I'm not totally writing-off Gaballo, (24-0, 20 KO) here because any fighter having at the same age as Donaire, I think it is just a matter of one night in the ring to look old. If father time shows up on Saturday night on Donaire's corner, well we might see a passing of torch here.
However, If Donaire will show up on Saturday night with the same level of performance when he faced Inoue, I've got Donaire to win, KO Round 7.
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