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Nonito Donaire reportedly set to unify titles with John Riel Casimero on August 14

In a late turn of events, Donaire will be stepping in for Guillermo Rigondeaux to make a 118 lb unification bout.

Nonito Donaire still wants to go undisputed at bantamweight Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Wil Esco is an assistant editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2014.

In a sudden turn of events Mike Coppinger cites a source indicating that WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (41-6, 27 KO) will replace Guillermo Rigondeaux against WBO titleholder John Riel Casimero (30-4, 21 KO) on August 14, now making the previously scheduled bout a bantamweight unification match.

According to Coppinger’s source PBC saw this as a great opportunity to stage a unification match between the two Filipino champions after Donaire scored his latest big win when he beat Nordine Oubaali to win the WBC strap. Rigondeaux, who isn’t injured, willingly stepped aside to allow this fight to take place with him being set up to face the unified winner.

Obviously this is exciting news, and let’s give Donaire all his flowers as he continues to demonstrate true championship level determination and skill in what should otherwise be the twilight of his career. And if Donaire should pull off the win here, it seems he’ll get his shot at redemption — another chance to fight Rigondeaux who back in 2013 put an abrupt halt to his meteoric rise to stardom.

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