Nonito Donaire vs. John Riel Casimero off for Aug.14th due to Vada testing issue

By Boxing News - 06/26/2021 - Comments

By Eric Flaherty: WBC bantamweight champion Nonito ‘Filipino Flash’ Donaire (41-6, 27 KOs) has withdrawn from his August 14th unification fight against WBO 118-lb champion John Riel Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) due to Casimero allegedly refusing to take part in the drug testing.

Lance Pugmire is reporting the news of the 32-year-old Casimero and the VADA problem.

It’s unknown what will happen next if there isn’t a workaround on this problem over the drug testing.

Presumably, with the Casimero fight off, Donaire, 38, will take on IBF/WBA 118-lb champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs) in a rematch with three titles on the line.

Inoue beat Donaire by a 12 round unanimous decision in a war in November 2019 in the World Boxing Super Series tournament in Saitama, Japan.

It was easily the tougher fight for Inoue’s career, as he wound up with a big cut over his right eye, fractured nose, and cracked eye bridge. However, that was with Inoue doing a great job of dodging many of Donaire’s best power shots.

Image: Nonito Donaire vs. John Riel Casimero off for Aug.14th due to Vada testing issue

If Donaire’s punch accuracy were a little better in that fight, Inoue would have been shelled to pieces.

“Told by Victor Conte that Al Haymon, Stephen Espinoza, and VADA Testing have all been informed by Filipino Flash [Nonito Donaire] that he will withdraw from fighting John Riel Casimero Aug. 14 due to Casimero refusal to participate in drug testing. Steve Kim first reported the development,” said Lance Pugmire @pugboxing.

It’s difficult to believe the Donaire vs. Casimero fight won’t be salvaged. There’s too much money, fan interest, and titles on the line for it not to go down.

Both guys need to unify these titles so that they can go into the clash against IBF/WBA bantamweight champion ‘Monster’ Inoue for the undisputed 118-lb championship later this year.

Casimero, if he doesn’t agree to the VADA, he can always reschedule a fight against WBA ‘regular’ bantamweight champion Guillermo ‘El Jackal’ Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs).

Those two were previously scheduled to fight before Rigondeaux pulled out of the fight, allowing Casimero to move forward to try and fight Donaire. But now that fight is off, Rigondeaux can come back into the picture to fight Casimero.

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You’d have to believe that Rigondeaux will want Casimero to be tested by VADA for a fight against him. Once Rigondeaux sees the issues Donaire had with Casimero, he’ll likely insist on him being tested.

For the average boxing fan, they’re not going to be too bothered with the Donaire vs. Casimero fight being canceled. Instead, they want to see Donaire fight Inoue next.

Casimero isn’t as well known in the U.S as Inoue, and there’s not as much internet in a fight between him and Donaire.

Nonito is coming off a spectacular fourth round knockout victory over WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali on May 29th in Carson, California.