John Riel Casimero: record, next fight and profile →
Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux fought only one time in 2020, but he's remaining patient and looking forward to bigger things in 2021. One potential clash is a showdown with WBO bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero, on a possible date sometime between March and April.
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum is not bothered by the recent comments from WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero, who says Arum's company was unable to afford a unification clash with WBA, IBF champion Naoya Inoue. The fight was originally scheduled to take place back in April, in Las Vegas, with the entire event being canceled due to the coronaviris pandemic.
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes IBF/WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, believes there is a realistic possibility that his boxer could unify with WBO champion John Riel Casimero in February or March of next year.
With his Las Vegas debut out of the way and ending in style, Naoya Inoue is ready to move on to more pressing matters in his already incredible career. The unbeaten three-division and reigning unified bantamweight titlist looked sensational in a one-sided 7th round knockout of perennial Top 5 contender Jason Moloney. Two knockdowns paved way for Inoue’s fourth stoppage win in five bantamweight fights, the latest of which took place Saturday evening on ESPN+ from The Bubble at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
As long as John Riel Casimero holds the WBO bantamweight title, Naoya Inoue intends to reschedule their fight. Japan’s Inoue and the Philippines’ Casimero were supposed to square off April 25 in Las Vegas, but their 118-pound championship unification fight was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Once it became clear their fight wouldn’t be rescheduled until a sizable number of fans could attend, Casimero and Inoue went in different directions.
Sean Gibbons, the head of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told Yahoo Sports that WBO bantamweight champion John Reil Casimero made a big impression when he easily put away unbeaten challenger Duke Micah on Saturday in Uncasville, Connecticut, as part of the Showtime pay-per-view card headlined by the Charlo brothers.
UNCASVILLE, Connecticut – John Riel Casimero asked if he could take off his mask at the start of his post-fight press conference Saturday night. The colorful Filipino fighter didn’t want to hide his face while he spoke. He couldn’t hide his disdain for Naoya Inoue, either. The WBO bantamweight champion called out the unbeaten Japanese star he was supposed to fight April 25 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Casimero wants to fight Inoue next, assuming the heavily favored IBF/WBA bantamweight champ, who is nicknamed “Monster,” wins against Australian challenger Jason Moloney next month.
Casimero, Micah Fight Photos Gallery - Mohegan Sun, CT. - For the WBO bantamweight title, world champion John Reil Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) dropped and stopped previously undefeated Duke Micah (24-1, 19 KOs) in the third round. (photos by Amanda Wescott, Leo Wilson)
UNCASVILLE, Connecticut – John Riel Casimero made the most of his biggest opportunity on American soil Saturday night. The Philippines’ Casimero knocked down Duke Micah in the second round and stopped him in the third round of their scheduled 12-round fight for Casimero’s WBO bantamweight title. Referee Steve Willis stopped the action at 54 seconds of the third round in the opener of Showtime Pay-Per-View’s six-fight event at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Casimero, Micah Scorecard BoxingScene Live - WBC Middleweight Champion Jermall Charlo and WBC Super Welterweight Champion Jermell Charlo previewed the CHARLO DOUBLEHEADER at official weigh-in Friday, as they went face to face with the opponents presenting the toughest tests of their careers. (photos by Amanda Westcott)