Donaire waits as Oubaali makes voluntary defense

All Nonito Donaire Jr needs to do is wait to get his due.

As if to compensate for the opportunity the four-division world champion lost last year, the World Boxing Council (WBC) has ordered bantamweight champion in recess Nordine Oubaali to make a voluntary defense in March, with the winner tasked to battle Donaire for the 118-pound crown.

Simply put, it’s the champion who was thrust into an eliminator for the right to tangle with Donaire, the mandatory challenger.

Oubaali was supposed to dangle his title against Donaire, but the Frenchman got hit by COVID-19 in November and had to withdraw from the bout held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez was named as Oubaali’s replacement, but the Donaire-Rodriguez bout on December 19 did not happen as Donaire also tested positive two weeks before the fight. On his initiative, Donaire took two coronavirus tests both of which turned negative.

By then Reymart Gaballo, who was slated to clash with Chilean Jose Velasquez in the chief support, has been elevated to the headliner against Rodriguez.

Being the aggressor, Gaballo earned the nods of 2 of the 3 judges to win by split decision over Rodriguez and claim the WBC interim bantamweight belt.

The Rodriguez camp protested the result and after a review of the fight tape, the WBC ruled a rematch in a date and venue to be agreed upon by the parties involved.

The unbeaten Gaballo, 24-0 with 20 knockouts, is back in the Philippines where he spent the holidays with his family.

A video posted by Sanman Promotions head JC Manangquil on Facebook on January 21 showed Gaballo back in training at the Sanman Gym in General Santos City.

Gaballo may have foreseen the WBC decision and is getting ready for a more convincing win.

Donaire, on the other hand, can bide time and let Oubaali toil for the right to fight him. – Rappler.com