Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba (left) and Filipino John Riel Casimero (right) engaged in a staredown after passing the official weigh-in for their WBO world bantamweight title showdown tomorrow, August 15 (August 14 US Time) in Carson City, California. | Screen grab from Showtime’s weigh-in video
CEBU CITY, Philippines — John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero and Guillermo “El Chacal (The Jackal)” Rigondeaux are both ready for war tomorrow for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world bantamweight title after passing the official weigh-in earlier today, Saturday, August 14 in Carson City, California.
Casimero, who will defend the WBO world bantamweight title weighed in at exactly 118lbs while Rigondeaux tipped the scales at 117.5lbs to officially give their much-anticipated world title duel a go signal.
Their bout will be held at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, tomorrow August 15 (August 14 US Time).
Both boxers didn’t expect that they would meet in the ring after Casimero, a three-division world champion was tapped by fellow Filipino, four-division world champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. for a world title unification showdown.
However,it was eventually scrapped due to several issues involving disrespectful comments and inacurate anti-doping paperworks.
Thus, Casimero and Rigondeaux’s planned world title showdown was revived which ultimately comes into fruition tomorrow. They will headline the fight card promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime Boxing.
The bout is nothing short of excitement as both boxers have telling records in their resume. The 32-year-old Casimero sports a record of 30 wins, four defeats, with 21 knockouts.
The pride of Ormoc City has knocked out his last six opponents and vows to add Rigondeaux on his list.
The 40-year-old Rigondeaux ages like fine wine. He is the current WBA world bantamweight king with 20-1 (win-loss) record with 13 knockouts. He is best known to defeat Donaire in 2013 via unanimous decision.
Rigondeaux, a well-known ring tactician will bank on his height and reach advantage. Rigondeaux is three inches taller (5-foot-7) than Casimero (5-foot-4).
Rigondeaux has a better reach of 67.5 inches while Casimero has 64-inch reach.
The third man in the ring will be referee Jerry Cantu while the three judges at ring side are Tim Cheatham, Robert Hoyle and Daniel Sandoval.
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