Casimero-Rigondeaux bantamweight unification to take place in August

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

One of the most highly-anticipated and long-overdue bantamweight showdowns will finally happen in boxing.

The Johnriel Casimero and Guillermo Rigondeaux bantamweight unification bout is about to go down this upcoming August 14 (Sunday, August 15, Philippine time) and the whole boxing world is going crazy about it.

At stake in the bantamweight clash is Casimero’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) belt and Rigondeaux’s World Boxing Association (WBA) championship title which is believed to be the final hurdle for the Filipino’s “monster hunting” of Japanese Naoya Inoue.

However, Casimero shouldn’t take Rigondeaux lightly despite having the power and youth advantage. To recall, the legendary Cuban slugger handed Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire – who was in his prime, one of his professional career losses in 2013.

Rigondeaux boasts an impressive boxing resume as he was a former two-time Olympic champion in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004) and was a World Amateur title-holder last 2001 and 2005.

Known to be one of the most technical boxers of all time, Rigondeaux boasts praises from other bigtime boxers as a tactician inside the ring.

Meanwhile, Casimero has remained ready expecting this bout since his obliteration of rising star Duke Micah in just three rounds.

“Ito na mga boss malaking isda na talaga hopefully maging akin kuna kayo mga haters… ABANGAN,” Casimero posted on his social media account.

If Casimero gets past Rigondeaux, facing Inoue would be the last and final opponent to determine the king of the bantamweight division.