Casimero continues Los Angeles training under Neri for title battle with Rigondeaux

A slimmer, stronger Johnriel Casimero drove to Los Angeles on Monday, July 12 (Tuesday, July 13, Philippine time) to rev up preparations for his title duel with Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux on August 14 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

His body back in tiptop shape after working out with strength and conditioning guru Memo Heredia, sparring with two southpaws, and doing gym work with Jorge Capetillo in Las Vegas, Casimero will reunite with coach Nonoy Neri at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

Neri arrived in Los Angeles on June 14 as a member of Manny Pacquiao’s training team for his three-belt battle with Errol Spence Jr, on August 21.

Casimero hopes to draw extra energy, motivation, and inspiration from Pacquiao, his benefactor under MP Promotions headed by Sean Gibbons.

According to Marc Lontayao, Casimero’s chief of staff, the World Boxing Organization bantamweight king will join Pacquiao’s early morning runs but will train daily two hours earlier than the eight-division world champion at Freddie Roach’s renowned sweatshop.

Lontayao bared Casimero has sparred around 30 pounds with unbeaten super featherweight Gabe Flores Jr (20-0 with 7 knockouts) and 17-year-old amateur sensation Emiliano Vargas, a seven-time national champion who is tracing the career of his father, Fernando, a two-time world light middleweight titlist.

Having reduced his rice intake, Casimero is now down to 130 pounds, just 12 pounds off the bantamweight limit.

Heredia is arriving on Thursday to make sure Casimero will be on optimum form for his bout against the 40-year-old Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who beat Nonito Donaire Jr by unanimous decision in a super bantam tussle in 2013.

Casimero, who has undergone VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) testing in Las Vegas, will have a new set of sparring partners at Wild Card to better prepare him for Rigondeaux, a highly technical fighter. – Rappler.com