Donaire calls out Casimero

Let’s walk the talk and get it on. That’s basically the message that WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has relayed to WBO titlist JohnRiel Casimero in trying to get a new contract signed for their once-cancelled fight to push through. They were initially supposed to face off in Carson City last Aug. 14 but the bout was called off when Donaire withdrew in the wake of Casimero’s verbal tirades insulting his wife Rachel. There were also accusations that Casimero was reluctant to submit to anti-doping testing, something that Donaire is a strong advocate of, but the issue was eventually resolved.

Guillermo Rigondeaux was brought in to replace Donaire and Casimero beat him in a ho-hum contest that was booed repeatedly by an impatient crowd at the Dignity Health Sports Park. Casimero hurt the Cuban in the first round, prompting Rigondeaux to dance the rest of the fight away. Rigondeaux chose not to engage and instead, ran around the ring like a headless chicken with Casimero in hot pursuit. Casimero was never able to pin down Rigondeaux for another fusillade and settled for a win via a split decision. Neither had much success landing but Casimero won because he was aggressive and at least tried to make a fight of it. The fans would’ve gone bananas if Rigondeaux was awarded the belt.

A week after the fight, Casimero posted a video calling out Donaire, saying “you’re next.” Then he posted another video challenging Donaire’s wife to fight a female dinner guest. That did it. Donaire immediately reached out to his promoter Richard Schaefer to make the Casimero fight happen, trash talk or no trash talk. It’s been over a month since Donaire dared Casimero to step up but for some reason, there has been no reaction. “I’m 130 percent ready to go,” said Donaire. “Casimero announced he’s fighting (Naoya) Inoue instead on Dec. 11 but Bob (Arum) denied it. Why is Casimero being evasive? Why is he playing games? There’s talk that he’s ballooned to 150 to 155 pounds. If he wants to fight in December, he’s got to be back training right now.”

The word is Inoue won’t be available to fight until next year, leaving the door open for Donaire and Casimero to square off in a WBC/WBO unification bout. If the two Filipinos meet, the winner will advance to battle Inoue in the ultimate duel for undisputed recognition as world champion in the 118-pound division. “I plan to fight in December and if Casimero isn’t available, after taunting me, then, move out of the way,” he said. “But if he’s up to it, I’m ready.” The bad blood between Donaire and Casimero makes for an intriguing clash. Fans, not just Filipinos, can’t wait for the fight to happen. Whether it’s held in Las Vegas or Los Angeles or wherever, it’ll be a blockbuster – two world champions battling for supremacy, bragging rights and pride. It’s a matchmaker’s dream.