WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire will be making his return to the ring in the last month of 2021. “The Filipino Flash” will be defending his belt against his fellow countryman Reymart Gaballo.
The championship bout will be held on December 11 in California, US.
The 38-year-old champion hasn’t fought since August when he defended the WBC belt by beating Cuba’s southpaw Guillermo Rigondeaux . He was supposed to fight the other Filipino champion in this division – WBO kin John Riel Casimero, but the fight never materialised because Donaire was dissatisfied with Casimero’s enrollment in the WBC’s “Clean Boxing Program,” which is administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
Gaballo, 25, won the WBC interim bantamweight chip in controversial fashion over Emmanuel Rodriguez last December 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.