WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire is confident of overwhelming WBO titleholder John Riel Casimero with his speed and power when the two Filipino boxing icons clash for a mega unification bout at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on Aug. 14.
"I know he's a tough guy but I know I have the capability of knocking anybody," Donaire told FightHype after witnessing reigning super WBA and IBF king Naoya Inoue crush compatriot Michael Dasmarinas at Virgins Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada Saturday. "My power -- a lot of people even with Inoue, he came in very aggressive and then he felt that power and he was very cautious .
READ: Donaire eyes Inoue rematch by end of 2021
"I believe that with my opponent feeling that power, they're gonna be very cautious and not to try to open as much. But again, anything can happen, that's the beauty of boxing. Anything can happen," added the 38-year-old Donaire.
Aside from his explosiveness, at age 38, Donaire displayed vintage performance with his speedy maneuver on top of crisp punches against Frenchman Nordine Oubaali to improve at 41-6 record with 27 knockouts and capture the WBC bantamweight belt.
He was also the first boxer to chalk up a loss on Oubaali's record out of his 18 overall matches (17-1, 12 KOs).
READ: Inoue praises Donaire for vintage showing vs Oubaali
With his win over Oubaali as proof, Donaire said he isn't called the "Filipino Flash" for nothing.
"As you can see in the last fight, I had a lot of speed and Oubaali is a fast guy as well. Casimero's known for his power and he's very flat-footed but if he tries to use speed, that's the big mistake."
READ: Inoue's motivation? To face Casimero and Donaire soon
Casimero, 31, for his part, last saw action with an explosive finish over Ghanaian foe Duke Micah last September to climb at 30-4 slate with 21 KOs.
The Ormoc native boxing champion was initially scheduled to lock horns with regular WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux but was eventually scrapped to pave the way for the all-Filipino bout.
Per The Ring, the 40-year-old Rigondeaux willingly stepped aside to allow the unification bout between two Filipino champions.