Casimero to put Rigo to sleep
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Aug 2021
LOS ANGELES. WBO bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero made light of regular WBA titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux’ boast that he’ll box the Filipino’s ears off when they tangle in a scheduled 12-round unification duel at the Dignity Health Sports Park here tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila time).
Casimero, 31, isn’t dropping a clue as to how he’ll dispose of the Cuban but he guaranteed someone's head will roll and it won’t be his. His strategy is a secret although he’s sure of the outcome----“gugulong si Rigo.” Whether it’s the left or the right, Casimero isn’t choosy. Either hand will put Rigondeaux to sleep, he said.
Casimero’s chief trainer Nonoy Neri said he doesn’t expect Rigondeaux to stand up and engage. “Hindi sasabay si Rigo,” he said. “Tatakbo ‘yan pero kundisyon si Casimero, hahabulin niya hangga’t wala ng mapupuntahan.” The other day, Casimero tipped the scales at 121, only three less than the 118-pound limit so weight shouldn’t be an issue. Neri said it’ll be over in eight rounds or less.
Casimero said Rigondeaux is just a stepping stone to bigger prey but he’s not taking the two-time Olympic gold medalist lightly. He’s going all out to score a convincing win to lock up an appointment with super WBA ruler Naoya Inoue or WBA king Nonito Donaire, Jr. or both. “They’re scared of me,” said Casimero. “I’m the real monster, not Inoue.” There is talk that Inoue and Donaire will face off in a rematch in Japan late this year. If it happens, Casimero will wait to challenge the winner.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said he’s betting his house that Casimero will knock out Rigondeaux who defected to the US from Cuba in 2009. “Game over, it’s bye bye Rigo, he’s going home to Cuba on a raft,” he said. “It’s Arroz a la Cubana on fight night.” Casimero sparred over 40 rounds in Las Vegas and Los Angeles to prepare for Rigondeaux, rotating a platoon of six fighters including Emiliano Vargas and Gabe Flores. He’s ready to rumble.
Ting Ariosa, who coached the Philippine boxing team at the 1984 Olympics, said there’s no doubt in his mind that Casimero will bowl over Rigondeaux. “Casimero’s too strong,” he said. “He knows how to lure opponents in, trap and take them out. Rigo’s very skilled, like (Vasyl) Lomachenko, the only man to beat him, but he’s slowed down. He’s supposed to be 40 but he looks older. If his legs fail him, Casimero will be all over Rigo.”
Casimero’s chief of staff Marc Lontayao said the Cuban is in for a rude awakening. “Casimero’s boxing IQ is underrated,” Lontayao said. “He’s a very intelligent fighter. He’s the executioner. He’s deadly with either hand, he knows how to cut the ring off and two months training with Memo (Heredia) made him even more explosive. If Rigo fights slick, Casimero will out-slick him. If Rigo runs, he’ll catch him. If Rigo engages, he’s going down. Whether Casimero will start strong or take his time or box or slug, that will depend on how he sees things. He’ll go upstairs and downstairs. Rigo won’t know where Casimero’s punches are coming from.”
“Less talk, the better,” said Lontayao, preferring to keep Casimero’s fight plan under wraps. “He’s tapering off now, just doing light training, shadow boxing, skipping rope, no more gym, sweating in a heated room to lose a few more pounds. He sleeps early, about 8 p.m., he’s well-rested. When the bell rings, you’ll see the monster at work.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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