Boxing

Why You Should Watch John Riel Casimero vs Guillermo Rigondeaux on Showtime

Youth vs. experience.

Casimero hits really hard but is not as talented as Rigondeaux. Rigondeaux is one of the greatest Cuban boxers ever, who is having a professional career, like most Cuban boxers, that isn’t living up to his skillset or amateur career.

“All these jokers always talk a lot about making me retire, but they have to do it in the ring.
Let’s see what you do on Saturday. I’m still right here,” said Rigondeaux. “He’s knocked out six guys in a row, but none of them are in the same class as me. He’s going to have the devil in front of him on Saturday.”

The plight of being a Cuban professional boxer is strange. The fanbase for Cuban boxers are not allowed to travel or watch their fighters live, as Cuban will not allow the fights to be seen nor is it easy for Cubans to travel to America. Now add that the style in which Rigondeaux perfected is a style that mixes power with distance control that allows for large lulls in fights and a far cry from the punching bouts like Roger Gutierrez vs Rene Alvarado.

“Casimero is going to be the third Filipino that I’m going to take down. Everyone is going to
see what I’m about on Saturday. I don’t have to tell anyone what’s going to happen now, you’re
going to see it all in the ring,” said Rigondeaux. “I’m only worried about the title that Casimero has. I’m coming for the WBO belt on Saturday night. Everyone who is here knows my story and what I’ve done at 122-pounds. I’m going to do the same thing at 118-pounds. Casimero is no exception, he’s just standing in my way.”

As for Casimero, the heavy-handed Filipino fighter, is less vocal, and more so set on a warpath.

“I know how to manage my game plan against Rigondeaux but I’ll leave it as a surprise for
him. Let’s see what happens Saturday. I’m not so much into the talking,” said Casimero. “I’ve stopped my last six opponents and Rigondeaux is next. He’s ‘finito’. If I finish
Rigondeaux, then maybe Donaire or Inoue will be next.”

One of the factors of this bout is age. Rigondeaux is 40-years-old, Casimero is 31-years-old. Casimero is also on a knockout streak, and never been more confident than ever, and he has an ace-in-the-hole, as one of the best boxing minds is behind him, Sean Gibbons. Gibbons is a legend in the sport, with Casimero, along with Manny Pacquiao are two of his marquee fighters right now.

“I respect Rigondeaux because he’s a good boxer and a two-time Olympian, but I want to
show to the world that I can knock him out and a lot of my fans want to see me knock him
out. So that’s what I’m going to do,” said Casimero. “I have a surprise for Rigondeaux on Saturday night. He will maybe last three rounds. Don’t run!”

To get to the Saturday night clash on Showtime, has been an obstacle in-and-of-itself. Rigondeaux, at one-point stepped down from this bout to allow Casimero, and Nonito Donaire to clash, but the two sides couldn’t come to terms over drug testing, as Rigondeaux filled back in as the original opponent. What makes this bout exciting is the road map.

We have Nonito Donaire, Gary Antonio Russell, and Naoya Inoue, all fighting at this weight class, and all in bouts that could be sanctioned, making for not just a good bout, but a fight that holds a lot of meaning in the division.

So on Saturday night, will we see a changing of the guard, or will the legend continue his historic career.

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Lukie Ketelle

Lukie Ketelle