Casimero uses interesting finger gesture in calling out Donaire and Inoue
WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21ko) is on a mission to get the last remaining divisional champions in the ring. In order, he wants WBC champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (41-6, 27ko) and unified champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue (21-0, 18ko).
LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING
There is history between all three champions, and hopefully, boxing will finally get some closure on this situation. Inoue set the division on fire after scoring a devastating first-round stoppage over then WBA ‘regular’ champion Jamie McDonnell back in May 2018.
The next couple of events will have your head spinning but they have a significant meaning. So let’s try to connect the dots until reaching current events. In 2018, the World Boxing Super Series kicked off an amazing tournament that lasted until late 2019. Both, Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire participated. It also included IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez and WBA ‘super’ champion Ryan Burnett.
The Japanese sensation ran down Rodriguez in two rounds capturing the IBF title. Meanwhile, Donaire resurrected his career by defeating Burnett after the champion could not continue fighting in the fourth round. The final showdown of the tournament had the Monster and The Filipino Flash to square off in a unification match-up that provided plenty of fireworks for the fans.
Naoya Inoue would walk away as the winner of the tournament. The conquest established Inoue as the man of the division. Becoming the unified champion painted a huge target on his back.
NEW CHALLENGERS EMERGE AND AN OLD FOE RETURNS
By the end of the tournament, two new players showed up in the division. The fresh challengers were eager to fight the newly crowned unified champion. In 2019, Nordine Oubaali won the vacant WBC championship by defeating former champion Rau’shee Warren. In addition, Casimero got his name thrown into the mix after obliterating then WBO champion Zolani Tete inside three rounds.
2020 provided excitement for fans as the unified champion accepted the call out from Casimero, resulting in a scheduled major unification between the two champions for April 25, 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, postponing the fight.
Inoue has defended his unified titles twice since then. However, for some reason, the fight with Casimero has not been revisited. Moreover, Donaire is back in the mix after pulling off another big upset, capturing the WBC title by fourth-round destruction over Oubaali.
Looking to capitalize on a profitable financial opportunity, Premier Boxing Champions head honcho Al Haymon orchestrated a unification bout between the two champions. It was a mouth-watering, fan-friendly fight that quickly dissolved like Alka-Seltzer in water. Nonito Donaire pulled out due to drug testing issues and misogynistic rhetoric towards his wife from members of team Casimero.
CASIMERO PLANS TO FIGHT THE CHAMPIONS
With the unification fight dead, PBC went back to their original plan from 2020 of having John Riel Casimero defend the title against the WBA ‘regular’ champion Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux. The WBO champion would win the fight. However, the bout frustrated everyone so badly that a member of team Casimero called for Rigondeaux’s purse to be taken away.
Casimero laid out his fight plan during the post-fight interview in the most entertaining fashion, when asked what is next.
“This is my plan three people [holding up three fingers]: first, Rigondeaux is finished [puts down one finger] and second, Donaire [puts down another finger, leaving the middle finger up pumping it towards the camera], then Inoue.”
By: Garrisson Bland
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