Casimero will return to the ring in an “action fight” before year’s end
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 16 Aug 2021
Casimero indicates with his fingers who he wants to fight next during an interview with Showtime's Jim Gray.
Hours away from his successful defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title, Johnriel Casimero is already looking forward to a quick ring return at the end of this year.
Casimero revealed to Philboxing.com that he and his promoter Sean Gibbons, are working on a November or December date
against a fighter he refused to name pending ongoing negotiations.
The fight according to the champ will most likely take place in Las Vegas in what he foresees as a “much better fight” compared to his outing against Guillermo Rigondeaux last night.
“Mas maganda ito, kasi hindi siya tatakbo, susugal na siya ng suntukan. Maganda na iyan,” disclosed Casimero of his possible foe.
(This will be a better fight, because he will not run, he will engage in a fist fight. That will be good.)
A “snooze fest” is the description that fans gave to last night’s championship match between Casimero and Rigondeaux at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California Saturday night (Sunday in Manila). The Filipino champ retained his title with a Split Decision nod in a bout that was booed by fans at the venue.
Casimero attributed this to Rigondeaux’s preference to run away from him and his advances in the ring last night.
“Takbo ng takbo talaga, ayaw niya makipag-sabayan sa atin. Sabi niya sa interview na gusto niyang makipag-sabayan at tingnan daw sa laban, wala naman nangyari.”
(He (Rigondeaux) just ran and ran, he did not want to exchange with me. He told in an interview that he is looking forward to exchange with me and that we should expect it during the fight but nothing happened.)
Casimero made it clear after the bout that he is targeting fellow bantamweight champions, Nonito Donaire and Naoya Inoue as his next two opponents.
Speaking to Showtime, Casimero enumerated his next two opponents to Jim Gray in what the announcer described as “colorful”.
“This is our plan, three people. First, Rigondeaux is finished, Second Donaire and next Inoue.
A bout with either of these two fighters will be a unification match for Casimero.
Donaire holds the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) 118 belt while Inoue is the owner of the last two major titles, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association’s (WBA).
If we were to follow this timeline and go back to Casimero’s original opponent last night and factor in promotional issues, his next foe will not be a difficult guess for boxing fans.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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