NONITO “THE FILIPINO FLASH” DONAIRE JR. and Johnriel Casimero will figure in an all-Filipino unification fight of the world bantamweight belts, international matchmaker Sean Gibbons announced on Sunday.
The announcement was confirmed on the same day Naoya Inoue scored a jarring second-round knockout victory against Filipino challenger Michael Dasmariñas to remain unbeaten in 21 bouts and keep his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight belts.
Donaire and Casimero were at ringside to cheer for Dasmariñas at the Virgins Hotel in Las Vegas.
Casimero was supposed to stake his World Boxing Organization crown against two-time Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba. But a unification fight with Donaire would guarantee that his belt and Donaire’s WBC title would remain with a Filipino.
“[Johnriel] Casimero wants all the belts,” said Gibbons, adding the fight is set for August 14 in Carson City under Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions promotion.
Casimero, 32, said it’s a blessing in disguise that he will be fighting Donaire instead of Rigondeaux.
“It’s 100 percent on,” said Casimero, who is also targeting the undefeated Inoue.
World class trainer Jorge Capetillo and strength and conditioning Coach Angel “Memo” Heredia has been prepping Casimero since his arrival in Las Vegas last June 11.
Donaire, on the other hand, is coming of an impressive fourth-round technical knockout win over former world champion Nordine Oubaali of France last May 29 in Carson City.
Casimero has a 30-4 won-lost record with 21 knockouts, while Donaire totes a 41-6 card with 27 knockouts.
Image courtesy of AP
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