Guillermo Rigondeaux: record, next fight and profile →
WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero defeated two-division champion Guillermo Rigondeaux to retain his title Saturday night live on SHOWTIME headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Casimero, Rigondeaux Fight Photos Gallery - Carson, California - For the WBO bantamweight title, John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) won a twelve round split decision over former champion and two-time Olympic gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-2, 13 KOs). (photos by Stephanie Trapp)
CARSON, Calif. — Guillermo Rigondeaux was wearing Nike boxing shoes in the ring Saturday night, but they might as well have been running sneakers.
Rigondeaux, Casimero Scorecard BoxingScene Live - Two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero went face-to-face Friday at the official weigh-in, before they headline action live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, August 14 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. (photos by Stephanie Trapp)
John Riel Casimero cautioned those that appreciate Guillermo Rigondeaux’s style to savor their fight Saturday night. It’ll be the last time, according to the colorful Casimero, that the Cuban southpaw will set foot in a boxing ring.
A fight that looked interesting on paper before it was replaced remains interesting now that things have circled back to where they started. Saturday night (Showtime, 10 PM EST), we almost had a Nonito Donaire-John Riel Casimero unification match at bantamweight. It was a surprising move with Casimero already slated to defend against Guillermo Rigondeaux. Ultimately, it was a surprise too good to be true.
Rigondeaux, Casimero Weights Photos Gallery - Two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero went face-to-face Friday at the official weigh-in, before they headline action live on SHOWTIME this Saturday, August 14 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. (photos by Stephanie Trapp)
John Riel Casimero handed Guillermo Rigondeaux his sunglasses Friday afternoon when Rigondeaux requested that Casimero take off his shades as they stood face-to-face.
John Riel Casimero expects a more enthusiastic reception for his return to one of the sport’s proudest venues. The three-division and reigning WBO bantamweight titlist puts his belt on the line versus lineal junior featherweight champion and active bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux this Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. The bout—which headlines a Showtime-televised tripleheader—marks the second defense of the WBO title he claimed in a third-round knockout of Zolani Tete in November 2019.
Guillermo Rigondeaux couldn’t help but flash back to his own stellar amateur career while bearing witness to the next generation. Before he became lineal junior featherweight champion, Rigondeaux (20-1, 13KOs) earned Gold medals for Cuba in 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens. The supremely gifted Cuban southpaw is now in line to claim true two-division title status as he challenges WBO bantamweight titlist John Riel Casimero (30-4, 21KOs). The bout comes on the heels of Cuba’s boxing team hauling five medals in the Tokyo Olympics, including a Games-best four Gold medals.