Philippines, 13 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


SPORTS SHORTS 131: NONITO DONAIRE, JOHN RIEL CASIMERO, MICHAEL DASMARINAS AND REYMART GABALLO - FOUR FILIPINOS IN WORLD BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE FIGHTS


PhilBoxing.com




Nonito Donaire, John Riel Casimero, Michael Dasmariñas and Reymart Gaballo are all set to engage in world bantamweight title fights. They are the four active Filipino bantamweight boxers who are holding higher ranked positions in the four boxing governing bodies.

* * *

Nonito Donaire, the No. 1 WBC contender will clash with WBC champion Nordine Oubaali. WBO champion John Riel Casimero will defend his title against with WBA (Regular) champion Guillermo Rigondeaux.

* * *

Michael Dasmariñas, the No. 1 IBF contender, will challenge Naoya Inoue for the WBA, IBF and The Ring world bantamweight titles. WBC interim titlist Raymart Gaballo is eyed for a rematch with Emmanuel Rodriguez, the No. 4 WBC contender.

* * *

If God wills it that Donaire, Casimero and Dasmariñas will beat their respective opponents, the Philippines will hold the WBC, WBO, WBA and the IBF crowns. And it rarely happens.

* * *

Johnriel Casimero promised to knock out two-time Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux when they collide on August 14. Casimero will start his US training camp on June 1. Casimero (30-4 with 21 KOs) seeks to avenge the loss of Donaire hopefully by dealing Rigondeaux the second defeat of his career.

* * *

It would be the most significant fight for Rigondeaux since his loss against to Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine on December 2017. Rigondeaux won the vacant World Boxing Association regular bantamweight title last February 2020 against Venezuelan Liborio Solís by split decision.

* * *

Former four-division world champion and future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire will challenge WBC world bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali in a long-delayed title bout which is set to take place at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on Saturday, May 29 in a Premier Boxing Champions event.

* * *

"The Filipino Flash" Donaire (40-6, 26KOs), lost to Naoya Inoue in their World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) bantamweight tournament finals declared as Fight of the Year, but impressed the fight fans for giving the Japanese a hard time.

* * *

Oubaali, who represented France in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, defended his title for they second time, scoring a 12-round decision over Takuma Inoue of Japan on November 9, 2019, at Saitama Arena in Saitama, Japan.

* * *

Michael Dasmariñas will challenge Naoya Inoue for the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation bantamweight titles in Las Vegas on June 19.

* * *

His encounter with The Ring pound-for-pound No. 2 Inoue will be Dasmariñas' biggest match, and it will be his first time to challenge for a world title in the four major boxing bodies, WBC, WBC, WBO and IBF.

* * *

Dethroning Inoue is a tall order considering his unblemished career record of 20 wins with no loss and 17 knockout victories. Inoue's latest victory was an impressive seventh-round knockout over Australian Jason Moloney in October last year after his unanimous decision win over Donaire in November 2019.

* * *

While Inoue is active, Dasmariñas has not fought since his match with Artid Bamrungauea of Thailand in October 2019, winning by a technical knockout in the fifth round improving his record to 30-2-1 with 20 KOs.

* * *

Gaballo (24-0, 20 KOs) trained in Miami for nine months with Cuban coach Moro Fernandez last year and is now back in General Santos City. PhilStar Sports' Quinito Henson reported that MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said, “Nothing is set at the moment for Gaballo, he’s getting his US visa re-issued and taking care of things.”

* * *

Gaballo’s manager J. C. Manangquil said he doesn't want the interim championship to be relinquished. “We won’t let the belt be stripped,” he said. “We’re waiting for advice from Sir Sean and PBC. Reymart will fight anyone.” If a promoter comes to stage a rematch with Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gaballo won’t retreat.

* * *

The Ring bantamweight rankings
Champion - Naoya Inoue
1. Nonito Donaire
2. Nordine Oubaali
3. John Riel Casimero
4. Emmanuel Rodriguez
5. Zolani Tete
6. Takuma Inoue
7. Jason Moloney
8. Guillermo Rigondeaux
9. Mike Plania
10. Gary Antonio Russell

* * *

ESPN bantamweight rankings
1. Naoya Inoue
2. Guillermo Rigondeaux
3. Nordine Oubaali
4. John Riel Casimero
5. Nonito Donaire
6. Zolani Tete
7. Jason Moloney
8. Charlie Edwards
9. Emmanuel Rodriguez
10. Mike Plania  

* * *

BoxRec bantamweight rankings
1. Naoya Inoue
2. John Riel Casimero
3. Guillermo Rigondeaux
4. Khalid Yafai
5. Zolani Tete
6. Jason Moloney
7. Lee McGregor
8. Takuma Inoue
9. Reymart Gaballo
10. Ronald Malindi

* * *

TBRB bantamweight rankings
1. Naoya Inoue
2. John Riel Casimero
3. Nordine Oubaali
4. Nonito Donaire
5. Zolani Tete
6. Emmanuel Rodriguez
7. Guillermo Rigondeaux
8. Takuma Inoue
9. Jason Moloney
10. Lee McGregor

* * *

Zou Shiming won three consecutive Olympic medals, bronze in 2004 Athens and gold in 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. He became the WBO flyweight champion from 2016 to 2017. Zou is China's most successful amateur boxer of all time.

* * *

Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics in the heavyweight class. He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion from 2018 until he vacated his titles in 2019, being the first cruiserweight in history to hold all four major world championship belts, the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

* * *

Last 10 Point Guards who were NBA MVP Awardees
Oscar Robertson: 1964
Magic Johnson: 1987, 1989, 1990
Steve Nash: 2005, 2006
Derrick Rose: 2011
Stephen Curry: 2015, 2016
Russell Westbrook: 2017
Source: fadeawayworld.net

* * *

It is very hard for a point guard to win an MVP award. They are usually the smallest players on the court and have to depend on extra ordinary skill and court generalship to make a great impact.

* * *

Oscar Robertson the 1964 winner, averaged a near triple-double with 31.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 11.0 assists. It took 23 years later for Magic Johnson to win 3 MVP Awards in 4 years. Then Steve Nash became a two-time MVP Award winner.

* * *

Rose averaged 25.0 points and 7.7 assists and even took the MVP from a prime LeBron James. Stephen Curry later won back-to-back MVPs and even won the first-ever unanimous MVP in 2016. Russell Westbrook, the last point guard to win the MVP in 2017.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jayr Raquinel Avenges Compatriots with First-Round Stoppage Over Kenbun Torres in Osaka
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 13 Jul 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev backs Gassiev for heavyweight unification fights after IBA Pro 19 title defence
    , Mon, 13 Jul 2026
  • Chess Kings rules Pacquiao rapid chess team tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 13 Jul 2026
  • P1 million at stake in DC Trail Ultra
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 13 Jul 2026
  • Gabriel Santisima Retains WBO Asia-Pacific Title with First-Round Knockout Win
    , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • Sumabong wins OPBF, WBO Asia Pacific titles
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine Blu Girls Ready to Take on the World’s Best at WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • Germo, Turno rule 34th Yakult 10-Miler Trilogy Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • 1st Grandmaster Eugene Torre Open Standard Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • Murat Gassiev retains WBA heavyweight title at the spectacular IBA Pro 19
    , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • Unbeaten John Michael Zulueta Headlines Highland Show July 25 in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 12 Jul 2026
  • Raquinel, Torres Make Weight for Sunday Showdown in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 11 Jul 2026
  • Pacquiao, Briggs and Chisora share their views ahead of IBA PRO 19 in Moscow
    , Sat, 11 Jul 2026
  • LICA MALLS 500 SHAW TO HOST PACQUIAO CHESS TEAM TILT
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 11 Jul 2026
  • Canelo vs Benavidez on Cinco De Mayo 2027? Maybe.
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 11 Jul 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev drives global combat sports expansion with historic wrestling partnership with RAF
    , Sat, 11 Jul 2026
  • July 14th Fight Card Featuring Hasim Rahman Moved to Tuesday, August 18th at ESL Ballpark in Rochester, New York
    , Sat, 11 Jul 2026
  • Sem Japet Enano scores another Upset in Brisbane, Stops Tyler Blizzard in 7th
    , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • WBO Asia Pacific super bantamweight champion Gabriel Santisima set to defend title tomorrow in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • BiYu Promotions Launches "Fights Under the Lights" with Star-Studded Card Featuring the Return of the Grandy Twins
    , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • Full card set for ProBoxTV on July 18 in San Bernardino
    , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev promises world-class spectacle ahead of IBA PRO 19 showdown
    , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • Ataev-Uzcategui WBA title eliminator officials named
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • GM Joey Antonio is set to defend his titles at the upcoming sixth Gov. Henry S.Oaminal Chess Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 10 Jul 2026
  • Triple title header in UKC slugfest on July 12
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 09 Jul 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.