Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 20) – Boxing fans are in for a treat on August 15 (Philippine time) as two Filipino world bantamweight champions square off for the unification of their titles.
Newly crowned World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. announced on Sunday that he will face fellow Filipino fighter and World Boxing Organization bantamweight king John Riel Casimero in a title unification bout to be held in Carson, California.
“My team does magic. Thank you to Richard Shaefer, Rachel Donaire, PBC, TGB, and Showtime. Started camp last week. Belt #2 coming soon,” said Donaire in his social media post.
Donaire added that the fight offer came from MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, who handles Casimero.
The 31-year-old Casimero, who holds a 30-4-0, 21 knockouts slate, was supposed to battle World Boxing Association bantamweight titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux. The Cuban fighter, who stepped aside to make the all-Filipino bout possible, will face off with the winner of the match.
Casimero said in his vlog that he is ready to face his fellow Filipino boxer for the unification of the bantamweight titles.
“Pareho ang pangarap namin. Kukunin ang undisputed status. Ang ipaglalaban namin ang bayan. Pareho kaming champion,” said Casimero, the pride of Ormoc City.
[Translation: We have the same dream, which is to claim the undisputed status. We will fight for our country. We are both champions.]
Casimero last fought in September 2020 when he floored Ghanian boxer Duke Micah in the third round of his first title defense.
The 38-year-old Donaire, who has a record of 41-6-0, with 27 knockouts, made history in his previous fight last May 30 when he became the oldest boxer to win a major bantamweight world title. He knocked out French boxer Nordine Oubaali in the fourth round.
