Bantamweight: Former Waterloo Now Philippines Glory Division (Last Part - Circuitous Path to Glory)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Jul 2021
With Nonito Donaire and Johnriel Casimero holding half of the major world belts in the bantamweight, the Philippines has indeed come of age in one of boxing's original weight class after nearly 80 years of struggle marked mostly by defeats and frustration, including a few at home arena.
But after their own meeting which could have been another high-water mark in Philippine boxing history failing to materialize for some reasons, both Donaire and Casimero are at a vital juncture of their careers.
Casimero is back against original scheduled opponent on August 14 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California- Cuba's former two time Olympic gold medalist and erstwhile undefeated unified super bantamweight world champion, Guillermo Rigondeaux who is now holder of the WBA secondary belt at bantamweight.
Johnriel is no stranger to fighting at Dignity. It was on the same venue back in early 2019 that he first burst into the bantamweight scene by gutting it out against promising Ricardo Espinoza Franco for eleven rounds before eventually decking the tough Mexican twice and forcing a stoppage in the 12th and final round to win the WBO interim bantamweight title.
Espinoza recently made headlines by putting scare on ex unified super bantamweight champion Danny Roman before losing a competitive decision in a 122 lbs world title eliminator.
After defending the same trinket in Manila in September by knocking out another Mexican Cesar Ramirez, barely two months later, Johnriel flew all the way to Birmingham in the UK to challenge South Africa's Zolani Tete for the WBO regular world bantamweight title.
Casimero scored one of pro boxing last major upsets pre Covid pandemic by knocking out the taller heavy pre-fight favorite Tete in three rounds to become full WBO world champion.
Failing to secure a promised unification against WBA-IBF unified champion Naoya Inoue in 2020, Johnriel vented his ire and frustration on mandatory challenger Duke Micah of Ghana in his first title defense last November in the USA scoring a brutal third round knockout.
Casimero has therefore won all his last six fights by knockout.
However, Rigondeaux despite his advancing age of 42, is still an enigmatic phenomenal fighter especially in and around the bantamweight class. He turned pro in 2010 at the late age of 28 and within two years, won his first world title, the interim WBA super bantamweight crown after just seven bouts. He became regular WBA champion in his next fight. In 2013, he became unified super bantamweight champion by defeating Donaire.
He never lost his championship inside the ring, losing it merely on vagaries of boxing politics. His only ring defeat came two divisions higher when he quit against Vasiliy Lomachenko in his failed quest to win the super featherweight title some years ago.
To advance further in his own quest for bantamweight domination, Casimero therefore faces the tall task of beating Rigondeaux for the first time at his new fighting weight.
On the other hand, Donaire although he still has no definite plan going forward, the most natural and viable path for him in his own bid for boxing greatness at bantamweight is a rematch against Inoue with the WBC, WBA and IBF titles on the line.
On the surface, there appears to be no major obstacles in making that happen. Both Donaire and Inoue have expressed their desire for another go especially with Nonito holding the WBC title which Naoya eagerly wanted to add to his collection that also included the Ring Magazine lineal world belt.
Top Rank Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum even said that the rematch is the most natural thing to happen next and ASAP but that may not be what Donaire's handlers at Premier Boxing Champions have exactly in mind.
Note that it was the PBC who originally thought of pitting Donaire and Casimero, ditching Rigondeaux in the process, before Donaire pulled out of the bout which brought back the Cuban. It seems the PBC will only allow Donaire, or Casimero to fight Inoue if all the belts are at stake and that means having first the WBC and the WBO titles on the house, i.e. in the possession of either Donaire or Casimero who are both under PBC for at least parity in negotiations with Arum and Inoue.
So it is unlikely that the PBC will let Donaire fight Inoue with just the WBC belt in his possession as that will make him merely the B side in the negotiations with Inoue as the A side and give Arum the position as the lead fight promoter with the power to dictate terms and conditions.
And not likely that Donaire himself will agree to any fight again against Inoue without the requisite random drug testing protocols which were absent in their first fight.
Hence, it is more likely that Donaire will be making a defense of his WBC crown in his next fight as Casimero defends his WBO title against Rigondeux with the winners meeting in a title unification before any talks with Arum and Inoue could be held.
I could be wrong but given the nature of boxing politics and especially business in America, those are the most plausible scenarios for both Casimero and Donaire.
Circuitous may be the path to overall dominance and glory in the bantamweight division, I believe Casimero and Donaire are determined to prevail.
But alas only one of them will be the ultimate winner and one true world bantamweight champion after the smoke of the battles clear up.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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