CARSON, CALIF. (July 21, 2021) – Two-division world champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and WBO
BantamweightWorld Champion John Riel Casimero previewed their upcoming
championship showdown during a virtual press conference on Wednesday before they step
into the ring on Saturday, August 14 live on SHOWTIME headlining a Premier Boxing
Champions event from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
The event is promoted by TGB Promotions. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at
AXS.com.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will begin at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and
will see Cuba’s two-time Olympic gold medalist Rigondeaux, who has earned pound-forpound recognition at various points in his career, return to action against the Philippine’s
Casimero, a three-division world champion looking for a career-best victory in his second
118-pound title defense.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX
“We are in the home stretch of training and everything has been going great. We’re fully
focused on and excited about this fight coming up on August 14.
“It’s about patience before everything. That’s how I live. Whoever is standing across the ring
from me on fight night, I will be ready for him regardless.
“I’ve always been at the world championship level and everyone knows that. At this point, I’m
just waiting for August 14 to again show what I’m capable of and take care of business.
“I’m not worried about Casimero’s power or anything he brings. I’ve fought in three divisions
and I’ve gone after the biggest challenges every time. I’m just not worried about what
Casimero will do in the ring.
“It’s simple to me. Casimero is going to do his job and I’m going to do mine. We’ll both bring
our ‘A-games’ and see who comes out on top on August 14.
“I’m not a big trash-talker. It’s not about what he’s going to say beforehand. I’ll see him in the
ring on August 14 and he’ll get the real Rigondeaux just like he wants. Until then, I’m just
focusing on my job.
“He says he’s going to retire me, so it’s on now. We’ll see if he’s able to back up that talk on
August 14.
“He’s going to feel my power. Everyone is talking about his power and I feel like my power is
being underestimated. I can’t wait to get in the ring on August 14 and show everyone what
I’m capable of.
“I can guarantee that everyone is going to see the best of me on August 14. I perform best
under the bright lights and that’s what I’m bringing to this fight.
“Casimero is a good opponent. Every opponent that I face believes that they can beat me,
but the pressure is on them to back that up. I can only control what I bring and I know I’m
going to be ready.
“I moved down to bantamweight because nobody wanted to fight me at 122-pounds. I’m the
best fighter at that weight and everyone knows it. But no one wanted to fight me, so it just
made sense to go down to bantamweight.»
JOHN RIEL CASIMERO
“I’m so ready for this fight on August 14. Training camp has gone so well and I’m just ready
to rumble.
“Nonito Donaire didn’t want to fight me but that’s okay. Donaire is easy for me. Now, I have
Rigondeaux and I know he’s very experienced. He’s a two-division world champion and a
two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. This will be a great fight.
“Rigondeaux has a much different style from Donaire. I’m actually much more excited to fight
Rigondeaux because Donaire is scared of me. I don’t think Rigondeaux is scared. If he’s not
scared, he better fight me and not run.
“I want this to be a fight. The fans want this to be a fight. I hope Rigondeaux doesn’t run. If
he does, this will be a boring fight. His old fights are no good. All he does is run, run, run. I
want the Rigondeaux that doesn’t run, the one that boxes and fights.
“I believe that my work rate will overwhelm Rigondeaux. We put together a nice strategy with
my trainer for Rigondeaux. We’ve watched a lot of tape on him. We just hope that the
Rigondeaux that fought Nonito Donaire on a bicycle doesn’t show up. We want to see the
one we’ve seen recently that comes to fight. I want to excite the people at the Dignity Health
Sports Park. It’s a very special place to me because that’s where I won the WBO title. It will
be another great fight if Rigondeaux comes to fight.
“When I beat Rigondeaux on August 14, he’s going to retire. He’s finished. Finito!
“We don’t underestimate anybody. I know that he’s a great fighter, a two-division champion
and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. I want to do my best. I prepare very well for every fight.
I just hope Rigondeaux leaves his bicycle at home and brings his boxing shoes and comes
to fight. I know he’s preparing for this fight with hard work too.
“The change in opponent doesn’t bother me at all. It went back-and-forth between
Rigondeaux and Donaire. I don’t care who they put in the ring in front of me. I’m ready and
prepared for Rigondeaux.
“Rigondeaux thinks that Donaire is a better fighter than me, so I’m going to change his
opinion on August 14.
“I need to win this fight so that I can keep moving along and get the next two big fights
against Donaire and Naoya Inoue. But maybe those two are scared of me and don’t want to
fight me.
“Manny Pacquiao is my idol. He’s a big inspiration. Being together and being able to train
and run alongside him and watch what he does is inspiring. Everything about him is
amazing. His power, what he does inside the ring and what he does outside of boxing as a
Senator and what he does to help people are all inspiring and impressive.
“I’m very excited to be fighting back at the place where I won my world title. I have great
memories there. There’s nothing better than going back to where you won your title. I think
Rigondeaux has realized at this age he needs to engage a little more. I think this building
brings out great fights. There’s something about the venue, so I think that Rigondeaux will
stand and fight me and give the fans at the ‘War Grounds’ what they want to see.”
CORTESIA:MAGNAMEDIA