By Mesuli Zifo

GLOBE trotting and IBF junior flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero has been ordered by the IBF to defend his crown against former IBF mini-flyweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi by December 16.

In a memo to the Joyi camp, the IBF inquired if Joyi would be interested in the fight and the South African has indicated to be eager to try to win his second world title in two divisions by taking on Casimero.

The IBF's decision to order Casimero to defend to Joyi is surprising especially as Joyi is only rated seventh for the title having fought in the junior flyweight division only once when he knocked out another Filipino Benezer Alolod in nine rounds to win the WBC International crown this past August.

Without first having to go via the elimination route, Joyi has been installed as mandatory challenger for the Filipino title.

Casimero once visited Joyi's country to challenge IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane but was knocked out in five rounds in March 2011.

He was then given an opportunity to fight for the IBF interim title in the lower division and won by beating Argentinean Luis Alberto Lazarte via a tenth round stoppage.

The outcome sparked chaos in the ring with chairs, debris and any other object the fans could lay their hands on being thrown at the Filipino camp, forcing Casimero to quickly flee the ring in one of the worst moments of boxing.

Despite the scare in Argentine the 23-year-old was willing to travel to Mexico to beat Pedro Guevara to retain his crown.

He was again on the road to Panama where he again saw off the challenge of Luis Alberto Rios.

Now Joyi's camp is confident of convincing Casimero to return to South Africa to defend against the local boy but the Filipino is said to be demanding an astronomical purse

“We want the fight to take place in South Africa and if Casimero does not want to come maybe we will have to go to purse bids to force him,” said Joyi's business manager Siphatho Handi.

Casimero's loss to Mthalane was his second in 21 bouts while Joyi's ledger spots two defeats in 27 outings