| |
|
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:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 12 JANUARY 2026: Dalton Smith Halts Subriel Matias in 5; Kabayel Stops Knyba in 3 By Eric Armit, , Mon, 12 Jan 2026Chess Players Association of Negros Occidental, Incorporated (CPANOI) – 2026 Opening Event By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 12 Jan 2026STUNNING SMITH DESTROYS MATIAS TO BECOME WORLD CHAMPION , Sun, 11 Jan 2026Former WBC champ Bazooka Limón hospitalized in Mexico By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 11 Jan 2026Zuffa Boxing set to unveil its maiden card on January 23 in Las Vegas By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’ve got an army and army’s move in numbers’ Owen Corrigan returns for Light Heavyweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Sat, 10 Jan 2026Pasalamat Festival Chess Tour 2026 to Push Through By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 10 Jan 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS & TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO PRESENT CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - VERONA, NY , Sat, 10 Jan 2026ELIF TURHAN SIGNS NEW MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING – FIRST IBF WORLD TITLE DEFENCE DATE SET FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 , Sat, 10 Jan 2026Driving Philippine Tennis Forward: Jean Henri Lhuillier Champions the 2026 Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Tour By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 10 Jan 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced , Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’m ready to make some noise’ Billy Quinncroft returns for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Dableo and Laylo's Team to Compete in Bulacan By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9 , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation , Fri, 09 Jan 2026IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media , Fri, 09 Jan 2026SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026Undefeated Kansas Middleweight Prospect Marco “El Tiburon” Romero finished 2025 with 7th triumphs, all by knockout, & 11-0 record , Thu, 08 Jan 2026Kinetix Sports aims for bigger events in 2026 By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 20262026 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge on January 26 By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026World Ranked Heavyweight Dainier Pero Headlines on Saturday, January 17th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia , Wed, 07 Jan 2026Jahyae Brown to Battle Arnold Gonzalez in Exciting Co-Feature on Thursday, January 15th at The War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey , Wed, 07 Jan 2026Hendri Cedeno Seeks Monumental Victory Against Alfredo Santiago for NABO Title January 10 at Barclays Center , Tue, 06 Jan 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|