Team Gaballo sees silver lining in tougher than expected win over Bravo

Former interim bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo and coach Nonito Donaire Sr. see the silver lining in their tougher-than-expected victory over Michael Bravo on Saturday at Elorde Sports Complex in Sucat, Paranaque.

Gaballo, 26, defended his WBO oriental bantamweight title via split decision against Bravo. The win did not come easy, however, as Bravo proved tough in a bout marred with headbutts that resulted in cuts on Gaballo's face.

"My left hand was swollen and my bicep was hurt. I was focused on the fight although there were a lot of things I was unable to do but I really tried. We worked hard in training. I took a lot of headbutts starting from round two," Gaballo told Sparring Sessions.

It was Gaballo's first dance with Donaire Sr. as his trainer. According to the boxing trainer, he is satisfied with his boxer's performance but said that there is still a lot of work to do.

"It was a good performance though he was unable to do it all because he was in pain. He did everything he can but [Bravo] is tough. I trained him before and I did not expect him to last because [Gaballo] is the bigger guy," Donaire Sr. said.

"We are going to work hard because he has the tendency to go back to his old style. He wants to eat him up from the very start and that was one of his mistakes but it is OK at least now he saw his shortcomings."

—MGP, GMA Integrated News