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    Casimero on Rigondeaux challenge: 'Walang takbuhan. Basagan tayo ng mukha'

    Rigondeaux says he wants a fight. Well, Casimero is willing to give it to him
    Dec 25, 2020

    NOT one to back out from a challenge, Johnriel Casimero was quick to grant the wish of Guillermo Rigondeaux for a title unification bout.

    His only condition is simple, though. No running.

    “Let’s do it. Walang takbuhan,” Casimero, who appears to be in a fighting mood even on Christmas Day, said in a post on Twitter.

    “Basagan lang tayo ng mukha.”

    The reply of the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion came after Rigondeaux said he wants to face Casimero next in a 12-round fight being groomed for a March or April playdate.

    Rigondeaux, 40, owns the World Boxing Association (WBA) version of the 118-lb belt which he won last February on a split decision victory over Liborio Solis of Venezuela.

    The Cuban, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, now has his eyes set on Casimero.

    “Casimero is the one I want. It’s the perfect one for my desire to unify titles. I have the WBA title and he owns the WBO. So I have to go over him to take his title and keep adding wins over champions,” Rigondeaux said in an interview with sports reporter George Ebro.

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      Like any Cuban fighter, Rigondeaux is known for his proficient technical style of fighting that is well suited in amateur boxing.

      Nonetheless, he has amassed an impressive record of 20-1, with 13 KOs. His only loss was a sixth-round technical decision against Vasyl Lomachenko for the WBO junior lightweight title in 2017 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

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      The Cuban likewise beat Nonito Donaire Jr via unanimous decision in a 2013 unification fight for the super-bantamweight championship.

      But despite wanting a fight with Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs), Rigondeaux still holds the 30-year-old Filipino in high esteem.

      “He’s a veteran and I respect him as a champion,” said the Cuban. “But I have respect for everyone and I know how to adapt to the opponent, whoever it is, when the bell rings. I’ve fought in several divisions and I’ve been in this sport for a long time.”

      Casimero is coming off a successful title defense of his WBO belt with a third round demolition of Duke Micah of Ghana last Sept.

      Initially, he was also seeking a unification title match against unbeatean Japanese champion Naoya Inoue in a fight that was twice postponed and eventually put in the backburner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

      Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

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