John Riel Casimero to fight Cesar Ramirez on August 24th.
3KingsBoxing has learned John Riel Casimero (27-4, 18KO) will step back into the ring August 24. He will defend the WBO interim bantamweight title against Cesar Ramirez (18-3, 11KO) in his home country of the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions will co-promote the bout.
There is an interesting side-note to this bout according to Sean Gibbons, who represents Casimero. During a sit-down with RingTV, he disclosed the winner must face WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete within 90 days.
Casimero age 30, has quietly had quite the career. He is a previous world champion at light flyweight and flyweight. He seemed to be at a career peak trajectory during 2016 when he knocked out Amnat Ruenrong. That victory earned him the IBF flyweight championship. He would follow up with a tenth-round stoppage win over Charlie Edwards in his first title defense.
Then suddenly the fighter from Ormoc City, Philippines vacated the flyweight title in pursuit of a world title at a higher weight. That goal as well as his career according to some within the Filipino boxing circles was in jeopardy after a suffering a decision loss to Jonas Sultan in June 2017.
After two comeback wins, he fell into a world title opportunity by a weird twist of fate. Here’s where things get interesting.
Living The Dream
Casimero was to face Ricardo Espinoza Franco in a WBO bantamweight title eliminator on April 20 of this year. However, Tete was also participating in the WBSS bantamweight tournament. This prompted Epinoza’s camp to petition the WBO to make the fight against Casimero for the interim WBO belt.
Casimero would take full advantage of the opportunity to achieve his dream of winning a third world title at a higher weight. He would stop Espinoza in the twelfth and final round! Just like that, he fulfilled his dream. Only in boxing can things like this occur.
Now, Casimero will make the first defense of the interim title on home soil.
Ranked 11 by the WBO, the most notable name on the resume of the Ramirez is former WBA/IBF bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett, who defeated Ramirez by ten-round unanimous decision in July 2016.
Casimero has been training for the last month in Los Angeles with Pacquiao as he was preparing for his July 20 bout against Keith Thurman. The winner of Casimero – Ramirez would be a decided underdog against Tete, who is recovering from a shoulder injury that forced him out of the WBSS Tournament.
Tete (28-3, 22 KO’s), is regarded as one of the elite fighters in the division.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
