VETERAN Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux is back as the challenger of World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero in a clash set on Aug. 14 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Boxingscene.com writer Jake Donovan reported in a story posted on the website yesterday that MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons, who handles Casimero, confirmed that the original rivals were back as the top attraction of the Showtime card.
Newly-crowned World Boxing Council bantamweight champ Nonito Donaire Jr. had earlier agreed to a unification bout with Casimero but eventually begged off.
Donaire claimed that Casimero failed to heed his request to enroll in the random drug testing conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency as a precondition for the fight. Donaire also claimed the Casimero camp showed disrespect against Rachel Donaire, the Filipino Flash’s wife and duly registered manager and trainer.
The acrimony between the two parties became public during a live Instagram video in late June between the Donaires and Marc Yao, one of Casimero’s close associates.
Donaire had initially agreed to the unified title match after wresting the WBC crown from Nordine Ouubaali with an impressive fourth-round knockout win last May 29 also at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
The report said that Rigondeaux, 40, who has a record of 20 wins, 13 by knockout, and one loss, is more than willing to face the cocky Casimero, who sports a record of 30 victories (21 KOS) against four loses, despite being dismissed earlier.
