WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero takes no prisoners inside and outside of a boxing ring.
The Filipino puncher insists he will retire Cuban great Guillermo Rigondeaux when they clash at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, on August 14.
WBA Regular belt holder Rigondeaux stepped in for WBC bantamweight king Nonito Donaire who pulled out after taking exception to comments made about his wife, manager and trainer Rachel by the Casimero camp. Donaire had previously replaced Rigondeaux as a more attractive match-up for the August 14 date, but the Cuban was drafted back in following the withdrawal of the ‘Filipino Flash’ .
“The change in opponent doesn’t bother me at all. It went back-and-forth between Rigondeaux and Donaire. I don’t care who they put in the ring in front of me. I’m ready and prepared for Rigondeaux,” said three-weight champion Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs).
“Nonito Donaire didn’t want to fight me but that’s okay. Donaire is easy for me. Now, I have Rigondeaux and I know he’s very experienced. He’s a two-division world champion and a two-time Olympic gold medallist. This will be a great fight.
“Rigondeaux has a much different style from Donaire. I’m actually much more excited to fight Rigondeaux because Donaire is scared of me. I don’t think Rigondeaux is scared. If he’s not scared, he better fight me and not run.
“I believe that my work rate will overwhelm Rigondeaux. We put together a nice strategy with my trainer for Rigondeaux. We’ve watched a lot of tape on him. We just hope that the Rigondeaux that fought Nonito Donaire on a bicycle doesn’t show up. We want to see the one we’ve seen recently that comes to fight. I want to excite the people at the Dignity Health Sports Park. It’s a very special place to me because that’s where I won the WBO title. It will be another great fight if Rigondeaux comes to fight.
“When I beat Rigondeaux on August 14, he’s going to retire. He’s finished. Finito! I need to win this fight so that I can keep moving along and get the next two big fights against Donaire and Naoya Inoue. But maybe those two are scared of me and don’t want to fight me.”