FORMER interim world champion Reymart Gaballo is back on track after an impressive second-round technical knockout of Ricardo Sueno in his ring return last Saturday night at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.
Gaballo dropped Sueno in the opening round with a right straight to the head.
In the second round, Gaballo connected with a solid left that knocked down Sueno. Gaballo sent Sueno to the canvass for the third time with a right uppercut and then finished him off moments later with a right straight to the temple. Referee Almar Odiong stopped the bout at the 2:44 mark of the second round.
Gaballo successfully bounced back after suffering his first career defeat last year, a fourth-round knockout in the hands of Filipino superstar Nonito Donaire Jr.
The 26-year-old Gaballo won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental and World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia Continental bantamweight belts.
Gaballo improved to 25-1 with 21 knockouts, while Seuno fell to 11-7-4 with four knockouts.
On the other hand, hard-hitting Ian Sampan (7-0, 6 KOs) dropped veteran Joe Tejones (13-12, 7 KOs) three times for a second-round stoppage in the show’s main supporting bout.
Alex Santisima Jr. (5-0, 2 KOs) walked away with a close split decision victory over former regional champion Jess Rhey Waminal (14-7-1, 8 KOs). Two of the three judges scored 77-75 for Santisima Jr., while the other judge saw it differently and scored 77-75 for Waminal.
In the undercard, knockout artist Benny Cañete (7-0, 6 KOs) demolished Jovanie Tagusi (6-7-2, 3 KOs); former world title challenger Froilan Saludar (33-6-1, 23 KOs) stopped Crison Omayao (24-27-5, 8 KOs) in the opening round; Judy Flores (11-1, 7 KOs) scored a second round stoppage of Rodel Sunquit (5-10-1, 1 KO); Kenneth Egano (5-1, 2 KOs) beat Jelo Bacalso (1-3-1, 1 KO) by majority decision; Nelbert Gaballo (3-0, 2 KOs) destroyed Yoben Limentillo (2-7, 1 KO) in three rounds; Joshua Belicena (2-1, 2 KOs) knocked out Rustom Sario (1-1) in the second round; Ricky Cristobal (1-0) outclassed experienced Rocky Sardido (8-28-5, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision; Aussie Tyler Blizzadd (3-0) beat battle-scarred veteran Nicardo Calamba (9-37-5, 6 KOs); and Donato Jordan (1-1) squeaked past John Paul Deaga (0-1).