Nonito Donaire v John Riel Casimero is apparently off after the Filipino fighter made a statement that he is refusing to give Casimero a career high pay day after somebody in his team made an offensive remark about Donaire’s wife.
WBO bantamweight champion, Casimero is scheduled to fight on August 14th but no opponent has been announced as of yet.
TheRing quoted Donaire as saying:
“I STAND against the disrespect and ABUSE of women and children physically, mentally and emotionally. AND I STAND against misogynistic culture.
“And as much as I want to knock him out, I’m going to take the high road and instead of highlighting his misbehaviours, I’m not going to give his example the stage or the payday that comes with it.”
Sean Gibbons, who promoted Casimero, said that both camps are currently working through some issues in order to get the fight going.
Hopefully the fight still comes off sometime down the road. Boxing needs these kinds of unification bouts. But having said that, I agree with Donaire here. It is not sportsman like to get personal and insult any member of an opponent’s family.
Those kinds of tasteless psychological tactics have worked in the past against the likes of Ray Leonard before he fought Roberto Duran for the first time. And it turned out to be a spectacular classic. But there are other, more respectful ways to get under the skin of somebody.
