Casimero, Nietes, Donaire aim to keep titles

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FIVE Filipino prizefighters, two of them current world champions, will be in the spotlight in what promises to be an action-packed weekend of boxing at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.

First up tomorrow is John Riel Casimero, who will make his third title defense of the World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown against top-ranked British challenger Gerald Butler in the co-headliner of the initial card promoted by Probellum at the sparkling 17,000-seat Coca-Cola Arena.

Sharing the stage with him is compatriot Jayson Mama, who will challenge reigning International Boxing Federation flyweight champion Sunny Edwards of England in what looms as an exciting clash between two undefeated boxers at the same fight site.

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Not to be overlooked in the program is the return to the ring of grizzled veteran Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, 39, who aims to continue defying Father Time when he slugs it out with seasoned Dominican campaigner Norbelto Jimenez for the WBO international super flyweight championship.

Less than 24 hours later after the Dubai promotion, Nonito Donaire Jr. enters the ring on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in the US to stake his World Boxing Council bantamweight belt against unbeaten compatriot and No. 1 contender Reymart Gaballo.

Sporting a record of 31 wins, 21 by knockout, against four losses, Casimero, known by his moniker “Cuadro Alas,” wants an impressive victory over Butler as a build-up to his highly anticipated unification title clash with Japanese slugger Naoya Inoue.

But Butler won’t be a pushover, having won his last seven fights and currently sports a slate of 33 victories (15 KOs) against two losses.

The undefeated Inoue, holder of both the World Boxing Association super bantamweight and International Boxing Federation bantamweight straps, has made it known he wants to face Casimero, who has been badmouthing the Japanese, calling him a “turtle” for allegedly avoiding the Filipino.

The Japanese, however, will first have to dispatch Thailand’s Aran Dipaen at the famed Kokugikan Arena on Dec. 14.

Both with similar unblemished 16-0 win-loss records, Mama has more knockout wins with nine compared to Butler with four, so it won’t be surprising if the match ends in a stoppage for either rival.

The elder statesman of local pro boxing, Nietes, is making his first defense he won by unanimous decision over tough Colombian Pablo Carillo last April 3 at the Caesar’s Palace-Dubai.

“The Filipino Flash” is making his first title defense of the WBC bantamweight crown he wrested from erstwhile unbeaten Frenchman Nordine Oubaali with a fourth-round knockout last May 29 at the same arena.

Oddsmakers pick Donaire a 2-1 pick to retain his crown and record his 34th win (27 KOs) against six losses, although Gaballo is a known knockout artist, stopping 20 of his 24 opponents, and is just as determined to topple his fancied countryman.

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