SPORTS SHORTS 237: NONITO DONAIRE AND JOHN RIEL CASIMERO SIGN WITH PROBELLUM AND POSSIBLY FIGHT TOGETHER ON THE SAME CARD ON DECEMBER 11
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 Oct 2021
Probellum, a newly launched promotional company has announced the signing of nine-time, four-division world champion Nonito Donaire. Probellum, which was officially launched last month, made the announcement Tuesday. The agency did not disclose the details of the contract.
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Donaire Jr. joins boxers Ricky Burns, Regis Prograis and Badou Jack as the top stars of the recently organized promotions outfit.
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Donaire (41-6, 27 KOs) is the current WBC world bantamweight champion. The "Filipino Flash" seized the present title with a fourth round knockout victory over Frechman Nordine Oubaali last May 29 in Carson, California.
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He also became the IBF flyweight champion, WBO bantamweight champion, WBA (Super) bantamweight champion, WBO super bantamweight champion, IBF super bantamweight champion, WBA (Undisputed) featherweight champion, IBO flyweight champion and The Ring super bantamweight champion.
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He has been involved in some of the biggest fights in the sport and has beaten the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Moruti Mthalane, Fernando Montiel Omar Narvaez, Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce.
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He was also defeated by boxing legends Naoya Inoue, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nicholas Walters, Jessie Magdaleno, and Carl Frampton. A lesser known American Rosendo Sanchez outscored him in his second career bout.
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On March 8, 2017, Top Rank and Donaire agreed to end their partnership after an eight-year period. On July 25, 2017, Donaire signed with Richard Schaefer's Ringstar Sports. Donaire has continued his long-time relationship with Probellum President Schaefer, the former Golden Boy CEO.
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"Nonito and Rachel Donaire are not just the best husband and wife or fighter and trainer team in boxing today but most certainly in the history of the sport," said Schaefer.
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"Nonito is one of the greatest fighters in boxing. A future Hall of Famer and four-division and nine-time world champion, but it is not just his talent in the ring but his personality, charisma and values outside of the ring which make him the champion and role model he is."
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"I am fortunate to call him my friend. It is a pleasure and an honor for me to have him join Probellum and I can’t wait to help him unify the bantamweight division and conquer many more world titles."
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"Richard Schaefer has always been a “'fighter’s first' promoter," said Nonito Donaire. "I am convinced that with his vision, leadership skills and passion for the fighters he will elevate the sport and most importantly continue to empower fighters. I am proud to be part of Team Probellum and continue my relationship and friendship with Richard."
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"In my past 14 years in active boxing, I have never known a person like Richard," said Nonito's manager, wife and trainer Rachel Donaire. "For 20 years he has made his name as the one who stood by the fighters."
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"Every person I have spoken to who had worked with Richard had the utmost respect and admiration for his passion for the fighters. When we made the shift to work with Richard, it couldn’t be more true that he was a man of his word; fighters come first."
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"Richard is a man I would follow into the fire as his knowledge, experience and compassion to fighters is unrivalled. Congratulations to Richard and his team on Probellum. I couldn’t be more happy to continue this next journey with Richard in our corner."
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After losing to Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue by unanimous decision in the well-fought World Boxing Super Series bantamweight finals in 2019, he is targeting a rematch to unify the WBC, WBA and IBF bantamweight titles.
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Donaire was recognized by the Boxing Writers Association of America as its Fighter of the Year in 2012. In the same year, he was named ESPN Fighter of the Year, The Ring Fighter of the Year, Sports Illustrated Fighter of the Year, and Yahoo! Sports Fighter of the Year.
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World bantamweight king John Riel Casimero got a help from fellow champion Nonito Donaire Jr. who assisted the Ormoc City native in his mandatory defense against British fighter Paul Butler as reported by ABS-CBN News.
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Casimero is now reportedly in a disagreement with MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons, and Donaire and his manager-wife Rachel endorsed Casimero to Richard Schaefer of new boxing promotions Probellum.
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"What we did was we met with Richard and we just did what we should do for a fellow Filipino champion. To help with his career," said Rachel in Beyond the Ring.
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Jason Casimero, brother and boxing coach of John Riel, disclosed they have signed a contract with Probellum.
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"'The contract has already been signed by them. It was already sent champ (Donaire), with Probellum. Thank you for your help champ," said Jason.
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So Casimero's mandatory title defense against Butler will push through on December 11. Jason, however, refused to comment about Casimero's relations with MP Promotions.
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Casimero and Donaire was involved in a heated online tussle months ago. It was so bitter that Donaire decided to cancel the unification bout with Casimero.
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Casimero later made a peace offering to Donaire by apologizing to Donaire and wife Rachel which they readily accepted. "Now we are no longer enemies, but we have to help each other in our careers," said Donaire.
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Donaire, now also promoted by Probellum, is scheduled to battle against fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo for a mandatory WBC bantamweight title defense also set on December 11.
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Nonito said his title bout and Casimero's defense might possibly be in the same card. "There is a possibility. Because as far as I know, my fight is also on December 11," said Donaire.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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