Casimero warns Inoue not to look past Dasmariñas

Naoya Inoue should be wary of Michael Dasmariñas.

This was the warning issued by Johnriel Casimero to the Japanese superstar dangling his International Boxing Federation bantamweight belt against the Filipino mandatory challenger in Las Vegas on June 20 (Manila time).

Casimero told the Japanese media in a YouTube video uploaded by translator Marc Yao that Dasmariñas is capable of stopping Inoue.

“It is possible for Naoya to lose by [technical knockout],” Casimero said in Filipino. “But if the fight goes the distance, Naoya wins the decision.”

Having sparred with Dasmariñas many times in Manila, Casimero said the fight will be far from easy, even dangerous for Inoue.

The reason? Dasmariñas also packs a killer punch and is only hindered by a lack of aggressiveness.

Though he wants Dasmariñas (30-2-1, 20 knockouts) to beat Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs), Casimero has mixed feelings.

The pride of Ormoc City believes if Dasmariñas stops Inoue, the career of the Japanese known as “Monster” would be over and their derailed megafight will never get back on track.

Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs), the World Boxing Organization 118-pound king, has long been taunting Inoue, also the WBA “super” champion.

With an Inoue-Dasmariñas fight set, Casimero said his current target is two-time Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs), the World Boxing Association bantamweight champion.

And if the Rigondeaux unification happens, Casimero is confident he’ll beat the 40-year-old Cuban tactician. – Rappler.com