The loud-talking John Riel Casimero, who recently retained his World Boxing Organization bantamweight title, is again looking at possible blue-chip bouts with the two rivals he has been chasing all along.
One of them is World Boxing Council bantamweight king Nonito Donaire Jr., who said the showdown with compatriot Casimero could still happen as he opened his camp for negotiation.
“It’s still possible, maybe this year or early next year,”said Donaire in a short chat with Filipino sportswriter Virgi Romano in Las Vegas.
Donaire was supposed to have a unification title bout with Casimero, whose blatant trash-talking on social media forced the former to opt out of the fight because of what he claimed as “disrespect” to his wife and family.
Cuban Guillermo Rigondeux agreed to fight Casimero instead, but ran all game during their bout, allowing the Filipino to retain his WBO crown via split decision last Sunday in Las Vegas.
Donaire has always insisted that he will negotiate with Casimero on his terms and that disrespectful comments should not be part of their efforts to promote the fight.
“I am a Filipino. We are professional fighters. We want to show the world that we have class,” said Donaire.
He also reminded Casimero that International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titlist Naoya Inoue of Japan also has conditions that Casimero’s camp should respect in case they also negotiate for a fight. “I have my own terms, Noaya has his terms, too.”
Moments after his victory over Rigondeux, Casimero called out both Donaire and Inoue. He taunted Inoue and called him “scared.”
A few days later, Inoue responded via his Twitter, saying he does not fear anyone. He also wants the fight to happen, so he can beat Casimero.
“Please organize a match,” said Inoue in Japanese.