By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has indicated his willingness to place a rematch between former IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero and Thailand’s current world champion Amnat Ruenroeng on one of his promotions in Macau.
We asked Arum whether he could help Casimero because fighting Ruenroeng again in Thailand would probably end up with another hugely controversial decision.
Arum told the New Standard/BoxingScene.com that he had heard about how Amnat got away with a number of takedowns and holding, some that were 40 seconds long and preventing Casimero, a known puncher, to get off with any shots.
Arum told us to have Sampson Lewkowicz, who is the international matchmaker and co-promoter of Casimero, along with Filipino Sammy Gello-ani, to call him so they could discuss a possible rematch.
When we informed Gello-ani he said he would contact Lewkowicz but when we followed up he told us “it will depend on what the plans of the Thais are” although we are aware that Lewkowicz is also the promoter of Ruenroeng and obviously couldn’t care less about who won since he was a “winner” either way.
To put it bluntly the response even from Gello-ani was disappointingly lukewarm.
We believe that since Lewkowicz is also the promoter of Ruenroeng he can insist that the Thai, who inexplicably prevailed in a foul-infested bout that was bitterly criticized by a number of respected American boxing writers, face Casimero in a rematch in Macau or any other venue other than Thailand.
Failure of Lewkowicz to contact Arum to try and work on the rematch would be a great disservice to Casimero and somehow indicate that it is more profitable for him to support the Thais.