John Riel Casimero retained the WBO Bantamweight Title with a 12-round split decision over Guillermo Rigondeaux in a fight void of action at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Casimero tried to make the fight, but Rigondeaux just backpaddled for most of the fight and less than 90 punches were landed between the two fighters.
Rigondeaux landed 44 of 221 punches; Casimero was 47 of 297.
Casimero, 118 lbs of the Philippines won by scores of 117-111 and 116-112 while Rigondeaux took a card 115-113.
Casimero is 31-4. Rigondeaux, 117.4 lbs of Cubs is 20-2.
JOHN RIEL CASIMERO
“I’m excited to get the win. Rigondeaux is a good boxer and two-time Olympic gold medalist. I was worried, because he said he wouldn’t run, but he ran the whole time. I thought I got the knockdown in the first round too.
“My expectations were for a knockout. Me and all my fans wanted that. I did my best to knock him out, but he was just running and not fighting.
“I had a three-fight plan. First was Rigondeaux, and I beat him. Next is Nonito Donaire and then finally Naoya Inoue.”
GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX
“Nobody wants to fight with me because I frustrate them in the ring. I landed the punches that I needed to in order to win the fight tonight. This is how I win.
“I have these God-given skills and this is the way I display them. I’m a unique fighter. It’s my style and it’s the only one I know.
“You can see I’m still better than anyone else in the light weight classes and I’m going to keep fighting.”
Russell and Rodriguez ends in a no-contest
Gary Antonio Russell and Emmanuel Rodriguez ended in a no-contest after a headbutt opened up a bad cut on Rodriguez.
GARY ANTONIO RUSSELL
“It happens. I was looking to establish my jab and I tried to set up a hook, and he came in at the same time. It’s very disappointing.
“I was actually in camp for about four months. I prepared great for this fight. I was really looking to broadcast my talents and show everyone what’s in my arsenal. Unfortunately the headbutt happened.
“Of course I would like to come right back. If he can do it, I want to get right back in there with Rodriguez.”
EMMANUEL RODRIGUEZ
“I feel okay. I’m a little frustrated after putting in all this work for the fight to end so quickly with nothing happening.
“With the headbutt, maybe if there was no blood, we would have been able to continue. But once I saw all the blood, I knew it was over.
“I don’t want to lose the condition that I’m in. I prepared really hard for this fight. As soon as the injury is fixed, I’ll be back in the ring and I’d like to fight Russell again.”
Warren Takes out Vazquez in 2
Former world champion Rau’She Warren took out Damien Vazquez in round two of their 10-round bantamweight bout.
In round one, Warren dropped Vazquez with a right hook. Vazquez was not up for long as seconds later, he was sent to the deck for a second time from another right hook. In round two, Warren dropped Vazquez again with a perfect straight right to the jaw and the fight was stopped at 2:18
Warren, 117.4 lbs of Cincinnati, OH is 21-3 with five knockouts. Vazquez, 117.2 lbs of Las Vegas is 16-3.
Rau’shee Warren
“I was trying to show them something different this time around. I have always had the power but this training camp was very different. I was sitting on my punches and working on something different. It worked in the ring.
“I always knew I had that power and I always knew I had that speed. It’s just about taking your time in the ring and letting them come. When I saw the opportunity, I went for it.
“Next fight is a title fight. I am the number one contender for the WBA. I want to thank Al Haymon for putting me in this position. I want to thank my team for pushing me. They know what kind of fighter I am. I guess these next few years, I am going to be champion. Next fight I am grabbing that title. Maybe I will fight the winner of the main event tonight (Rigondeaux vs. Casimero).”
“I proved tonight that I’m ready for a big fight. Now it’s back home and back to the gym and back to the drawing board.
“My corner told me to slow down in the second round and just let it come. I was just trying to let him get comfortable and as soon as I did that I caught him with the left hand.”
In a non-televised bout, Brandun Lee from La Quinta, Calif., improved to 23-0 with 21 KOs in his California debut as he knocked out Ezequiel Fernandez (28-5-1, 3 KOs) three times in the opening round. “Of course it was good, but could have been better,” said Lee whose fight was called off at 1:40 of the first round. “There’s always room to improve but at the end of the day we got the job done. I’ve been putting dudes to sleep so you’re right, it’s only right for me to step up the competition and go to world-class SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.”
