WITH the Tokyo Summer Games fever still lingering in the air, Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux is drawing inspiration from his own experience as back-to-back Olympic gold medalist when he fights Filipino World Boxing Organization bantamweight champ John Riel Casimero on Aug. 14 in Carson City, California.
Recalling his golden memories in the 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympics has rekindled the flame under the Cuban veteran, according to a story written by Anthony Cocks posted on the ringnews24.com website yesterday (Sunday in the US).
“It has been a very focused camp, and I have found inspiration watching the Olympics and it has lit a spark in me,” Rigondeaux, who owns the lightly-regarded World Boxing Association “regular” bantamweight belt, was quoted as saying.
“Winning two gold medals in my early years gives me added incentive to win this fight. I want to prove to the world that I am one of the best boxers ever and that I have a lot left to give in this sport,” he said. “I am confident that I am going to do that against the most avoided fighter in my weight class.
“Casimero is a dangerous fighter and a very powerful puncher, but I’m going to tame him with great boxing skills.”
The Cuban, 40, has a record of 20 wins, 13 by knockout, against one loss, and is eight years older than “Quadro Alas,” Casimero’s moniker, who has 30 wins (21 KOs) and four losses.
Known as a crafty boxer, Rigondeaux counts current World Boxing Council bantamweight titlist Nonito “The Flash” Donaire among his victims, winning by unanimous decision when they fought for the WBA and WBO super bantam belts on April 13, 2013 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
“Training in Texas with Ronnie Shields has been great and our energy working together is fantastic. Ronnie has had a lot of world champions, and has a very professional boxing gym, with a lot of world champions and fighters who are competing at the highest level of the sport,” he said.
“I am motivated to work hard, not just to reach my own goals, but by all the young fighters in the gym who are driven and focused. The atmosphere has brought something new out of me. I’m revived and feeling young again,” he added.
The veteran ring warrior acknowledged he was the underdog but vowed to do a Manny Pacquiao, who, at 40, wrested the WBA super welterweight belt from erstwhile unbeaten American champ Keith Thurman with a close split decision victory in July 2019 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
“It always feels good fighting for a world title and I have had the WBO title before after I beat Nonito Donaire, but this time I’m going up against a hungry young lion,” Rigondeaux said. “I am looking to capture another world title and give another great fight that fans will talk about for years.”
Like Pacquiao, Rigondeaux said:” I feel good. I think at this point in my career, all the time away from the ring helps. I know how to fight and I know how to train, the big thing is knowing how to recover, and not damage my body. I am doing a good job at staying sharp in the gym, but not overtraining.
“A win against Casimero will do wonders for my career.”
