Remember Guillermo Rigondeaux?

You know, he was the guy who had a spectacular amateur career – including two Olympic golds and two world championships – then turned pro and won and defended a title by the time he’d hit 10 fights.

And just more than a year later, he competitively undressed then pound-for-pound emperor Nonito Donaire at Radio City Music Hall, snatching both the Filipino’s title belt and his BWAA award afterglow.

All of that had occurred by April of 2013, better than eight years ago.

And considering the Miami-based Cuban exile was already almost 33, his shelf life seemed predestined.

But somehow, he’s still going.

Now just a few weeks from 41, “The Jackal” is immersed in a midlife renaissance and possibly on the verge of adding a new weight class crown – four pounds down from where he started – to the resume.

Ironically, he’ll face another Filipino champion, WBO bantamweight king John Riel Casimero, atop a three-bout TV card that’ll be broadcast live by Showtime from Carson, Calif. on Saturday night.

The show begins 10 p.m. ET.

Casimero, a 32-year-old who’s been a pro since 2007, is making defense No. 2 of the 118-pound strap he won from Zolani Tete by a third-round TKO in late 2019. He defended once in 2020, finishing then-unbeaten challenger Duke Micah in three rounds at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.

He’s previously reigned at 108 and 112 pounds and has never lost a fight in which he’s weighed more than 115, winning eight times and scoring six stoppages. Each of those six stoppages have come in his last six fights, with an average of six rounds apiece.

He’ll arrive Saturday slotted third in the division by the Independent World Boxing Rankings, two slots ahead of Rigondeaux at No. 5.

So, he’s certainly no pushover, and his challenger seems to know it.

“I have found inspiration watching the Olympics, and it has lit a spark in me,” Rigondeaux said. 

“Winning two gold medals in my early years gives me added incentive to win this fight. I want to prove to the world that I am one of the best boxers ever, and that I have a lot left to give in this sport. 

“I am confident that I am going to do that against the most avoided fighter in my weight class. Casimero is a dangerous fighter and a very powerful puncher, but I’m going to tame him with great boxing skills.”

Just how he’ll accomplish it remains to be seen.

Rigondeaux was long branded a dull, defense-heavy fighter early in his career, though he did stop Rico Ramos to win his first title and dropped Teon Kennedy five times in five rounds of his initial defense.

He stepped a little harder on the offensive gas for an eighth-round stoppage of Julio Ceja at super bantamweight two years ago but was back to a more strategic bent upon cutting down to bantamweight for a split nod over Liborio Solis across 12 rounds in Allentown, Pa. in early 2020.

If words matter, he at least sounds determined to put on a memorable performance, thanks in large part to new preparatory surroundings.

“Training in Texas with Ronnie Shields has been great and our energy working together is fantastic. … The atmosphere has brought something new out of me,” he said. “I’m revived and feeling young again.

“It always feels good fighting for a world title, and I have had the WBO title before after I beat Nonito Donaire, but this time I’m going up against a hungry young lion. I am looking to capture another world title and give another great fight that fans will talk about for years.”

Speaking of Donaire, he’s in play for either man with a victory thanks to his status as the WBC’s champion at 118. In fact, a bout between Donaire and Casimero was lined up for this weekend but fell apart after chronic disagreements between the camps over drug testing and timing, etc.

Rigondeaux stepped in, but Casimero still has his fellow Filipino on his agenda.

“I know that I can make this an easy fight for myself. I want (Rigondeaux) to have some guts and be the exciting fighter he’s shown recently. It will be better for the fans, and it will really prove who is the best,” he said. “I want to show that I’m strong and can beat any tough opponent. 

“A win over Rigondeaux will solidify me as one of, if not the best fighter in the bantamweight division. My goal is to take care of business on Saturday night, then go after the scared Nonito Donaire.”

* * * * * * * * * *

This week’s title-fight schedule: 

WBO bantamweight title – Carson, California

John Riel Casimero (champion/No. 3 IWBR) vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux (No. 4 WBO/No. 5 IWBR)

Casimero (30-4, 21 KO): Second title fight; Two stoppage wins in two U.S. fights (15 total rounds)

Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KO): 10th title fight (8-1); Held WBA/WBO titles at 122 pounds (2012-14)

Fitzbitz says: Hard to comprehend that Rigondeaux is still doing what he’s doing just more than month out from his 41st birthday. And he’s a slight favorite here. I’m in. Rigondeaux by decision (75/25)

This week’s trash title-fight schedule

WBA “world” super flyweight title – Tulsa, Oklahoma

Joshua Franco (champion/No. 11 IWBR) vs. Andrew Moloney (No. 3 WBA/No. 12 IWBR)

Why it’s trash: “We’re the WBA. We’re ruining boxing” If it’s not the slogan on the office doors and stationery of the rogue Panamanian regime, it ought to be. You want to put together a fight between two guys with fringe top-10 status at 115 pounds? Fine. Just don’t call it a title fight. 

Last week's picks: 1-0 (Win: Galahad)

2021 picks record: 27-7 (79.4 percent) 

Overall picks record: 1,183-382 (75.5 percent) 

NOTE: Fights previewed are only those involving a sanctioning body's full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, etc. Fights for WBA "world championships" are only included if no "super champion" exists in the weight class. 

Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. He is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.