Donaire still hopeful of all-Filipino world title showdown with Casimero 

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) world bantamweight champion and four-division world champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. remains optimistic that the all-Filipino world title unification showdown with WBO world bantamweight champion John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero will push through. 

Donaire (41-6, 27KOs) and Casimero (31-4, 21KOs) faced each other on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, in a live YouTube interview, which ended on a positive note.

READ: Casimero clears up issues with Donaire

Donaire learned that Casimero and the latter’s promoter, Sean Gibbons of MP Promotions, have internal issues, which affected their planned bout. 

In a Facebook post on Thursday, September 23, Donaire said that he is very hopeful that Casimero and Gibbons will resolve their issue amicably.

“After the faceoff with Casimero, it was said there are some internal issues in their side that need to be resolved before they move forward.  Hopefully it is resolved amicably. Gaballo is mandatory.  But we all know this is boxing n as far as I know Sean handles both Gaballo and Casimero. If Casimero and Sean resolve their problems it is possible for Gaballo to step aside but this is all up to them at this point. I am fighting Dec with whoever steps in the ring,” stated Donaire in his Facebook post. 

It’s best remembered in the interview that Donaire Jr. and his team already forwarded to Gibbons their contract for them to sign. 

However, Casimero insisted that he never received any contract to sign. 

Casimero blamed Gibbons for not sending him the contracts, which he would have immediately signed to make the fight  with Donaire happen. 

He also admitted that he has certain ‘issues’ with Gibbons that he wants to resolve.

Both boxers supposedly scheduled their unification showdown on August 14 in Carson City, California. 

However, it was abruptly cancelled due to contract issues mainly surrounding on the anti-doping documents that Casimero’s team allegedly didn’t submit on time. In addition, Casimero’s disrespectful comments on Donaire’s wife and family made the latter decide to back out from the  clash.

In the newly furnished contract, Donaire  stated that part of the agreement states that no ‘trash-talking’ is allowed and both boxers are required to undergo regular and random drug testing from training camp to fight day. 

Casimero, during the interview, said that he gamely agrees with the terms, saying that he would immediately sign the contract if he receives it.

Donaire and Casimero’s unification bout won’t likely happen soon after the WBO ordered the latter for a mandatory title defense versus Paul Butler of the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Donaire Jr. was also ordered by WBC to defend his world title versus fellow Filipino and interim champion Reymart Gaballo.

/bmjo

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