| |
|
Breaking: Casimero versus Donaire - An All-Filipino Unification Fight on August 14
By Ed de la Vega, DDS PhilBoxing.com Sun, 20 Jun 2021

Philippine boxing has really reached the crest!
In the old days, matchmakers will not put two Filipino world champions on the same weight division with two different belts in a unification fight in order to have more Filipino champions. “Mas mabuti kung marami tayong champions”, (It's better if we have more champions) they used to say.
But things had changed.
This change will be more vividly manifested on August 14th when WBO bantamweight king John Riel Casimero will tangle with Nonito Donaire, Jr., the new WBC bantamweight title holder.
Casimero was supposed to defend his belt against the Cuban spitfire, Guillermo Rigondeaux but latest information from Sean Gibbons of the MP Promotions indicates that Rigondeaux is out and Donaire will take his place.
The fight will be at the Dignity Health Center in Carson, California, the site of many memorable fights in the past years.
When Donaire recently won the WBC belt, he stated that he wants to unify the bantamweight belts. He wants a re-match against Naoya Inuoe for the WBA and IBF belts the Japanese holds.
He also wants the WBO belt that is currently in the possession of John Riel Casimero. Donaire indicated that he is not particularly happy to fight a fellow Filipino, but he does not have a choice if he wants to unify all the belts and be called the King of the Bantamweights.
According to Sean Gibbons of the MP Promotions, Casimero also wants to unify the belts and be the “first Pinoy in history to unify the belts”. Therefore, when the opportunity came, he said “Heck yes!”.
Rigondeaux apparently left for Cuba already. Whether he was given a “step-aside fee” is not yet clear. But that would not be too far fetched.
Stay tuned for more. The official announcement is said to be made at the fight between Inuoe and Dasmariñas at the Virgin Hotels tonight June 19th, 2021 Vegas time.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN , Wed, 18 Feb 2026CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3 , Wed, 18 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced , Wed, 18 Feb 2026Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22 By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace” By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies" By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card , Tue, 17 Feb 2026TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN" , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts , Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS , Fri, 13 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|