Michael Dasmariñas climbs the ring an underdog against International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue this Sunday in Las Vegas.
But he has all the morale support he needs from Filipino world champions Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero and Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr.
“It’s time to show the world that he’s one of the best fighters in the world,” Casimero said on Thursday. “I hope he will take advantage of this opportunity. I know he prepared so hard for this fight and I’ll be watching him from ringside.”
Casimero is currently in Las Vegas preparing for his August 14 showdown with Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic gold medalists Guillermo Rigondeaux. He was supposed to fight Inoue April last year, but the pandemic canceled the bout.
Donaire, on the other hand, advised Dasmariñas not to fear Inoue.
“He has to show his best and he shouldn’t be afraid with the name Inoue. Just like anybody else, he’s just a human being,” Donaire said.
“If Inoue can do it, I know Michael can also do it,” said Donaire, who lost to Inoue in November 2019 via unanimous decision in Saitama, Japan.
But Donaire redeemed himself with a devastating fourth-round technical knockout win against Frenchman Nordine Oubaali in Carson City to snatch the World Boxing Council bantamweight belt.
The Pili (Camarines Norte) pride Dasmariñas is fighting Inoue at the Virgins Hotel in Las Vegas with spectators.