Philippines, 11 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Donaire bored by Carson dance


PhilBoxing.com




LAS VEGAS. WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. thought of driving with wife Rachel to Carson City to witness the fight between WBO titlist JohnRiel Casimero and challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Dignity Health Sports Park last Saturday but decided to catch it on TV in the end.

“We were going to go,” said Rachel. “But it’s been a busy week with Jun training, our two boys going to school then picking them up. So we stayed home. It was a boring fight. They just went round and round. Both guys were ineffective in executing their gameplan. Imagine Casimero landed only 47 punches and Rigo, 44 the entire 12 rounds so that’s an average of less than five a round. In boxing, you let your two hands go. It’s not MMA where you can take down an opponent to the ground and force a submission. Actually, it was difficult to watch because of the amount of punches landed. I think it should’ve been a draw. Casimero pressed the action but couldn’t catch Rigo while Rigo frustrated Casimero.”

Donaire said he snored a little while struggling to stay awake in front of the TV as fans in the venue booed Rigondeaux for refusing to mix it up and dancing out of Casimero’s strike zone. Rachel said they’ll sit down with Ringstar Sports CEO Richard Schaefer this week to discuss four or five options on what to do next. Rachel declined to disclose what’s on the table at the moment. Surely, a rematch with IBF/WBA bantamweight “super” champion Naoya Inoue will be considered and there’s talk it may be held in Japan late this year. Is a Casimero duel in the works? Donaire wouldn’t comment.

After repulsing Rigondeaux by a split decision, Casimero said he has two opponents left in his bucket list. “Rigo is finito,” said Casimero. “Next is Donaire then Inoue. I think they’re both scared of me like Rigo who just kept running, no punching.” Donaire laughed off Casimero’s taunt. “Am I scared?” said Donaire. “I’ve fought 21 world champions in my career. There’s no way I’m scared of anyone.”

Donaire said he watched highlights of the Philippine boxing team’s exploits in the recent Tokyo Olympics. “I was particularly interested in Eumir Marcial’s fight against Arman Darchinyan,” said Donaire. “I fought Darchinyan’s uncle Vic twice and knocked him out. Marcial was impressive in taking out Darchinyan. I thought the Filipino boxers were tremendous. Their courage, effort and performance were commendable. In the past Olympics, we had difficulty getting even one medal but this time, we brought home four, three from boxing. Just watching them fight, you could sense their high level of confidence in performing on the big stage. We’re all very proud of our Filipino fighters.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 19-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
    , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Filipino child prodigy Asher Judd Sy tops the 3rd King’s College Bangkok Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 10 Feb 2026
  • Chaos in Liverpool: Figueroa Silences Echo Arena with 12th-Round Fireworks
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Stuns Unbeaten World Ranked and WBO Asia Pacific Champion Subaru Murata to Capture WBO Asia Pacific Title at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
    , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Lucky "Batang Quiapo" Salvador defeats Rhaky "Roj" Constantino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Feb 2026
  • Nick Ball vs Brandon Figueroa: Scrappy Styles Matchup in Liverpool
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 07 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Sebastian Juarez Returns to the Ring February 6 in Guadalajara
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Esquillo, Arpilleda to compete at Lunar Horse Battle Royal 10-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 05 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.