Donaire blasts Casimero for his remark on Roach’s speech

Nonito Donaire vs John Riel Casimero poster. Photo from Nonito Donaire’s Twitter

MANILA, Philippines—Nonito Donaire and John Riel Casimero’s feud have taken another turn and it’s now involved legendary trainer Freddie Roach.

Casimero, the WBO bantamweight champion, appeared to have mocked Roach’s speech during an appearance in the RichDon TV YouTube channel.

The brash Filipino boxer said  that he only wants to be trained by a Filipino coach, commenting that Roach, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, talks like a “robot.”

“Siyempre gusto ko Pilipino. Hindi kami magkaka-intindihan nun. Tapos yung pagsasalita pa hindi pa gaanong marinig. Parang robot,” said Casimero.

(Of course, I want a Filipino trainer because we [Roach and I] won’t understand each other. His speech [is not that discernible]. He talks like a robot.)

These comments did not sit well with Donaire as he expressed his disgust in the comment section of his Facebook account.

“That was sad,” wrote Donaire. “Freddie is not only a legendary trainer but also a human being!”

“You don’t make fun of someone like that. Not about health, especially in this sport we are in. You don’t know when karma will come back around.”

Ironically, Casimero trained at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in the lead-up for his fight against Guillermo Rigondeaux in August.

Casimero’s bout against Rigondeaux, coincidentally, was supposed to be fought against Donaire to unify the WBO and WBC titles but that match was scrapped.

Aside from disrespecting his wife Rachel, Donaire also said Casimero is also not enrolled with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association thus leading to the cancellation of their fight.

Casimero has continuously prodded at Donaire in several social media posts, most of which were polarizing.

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