John Riel Casimero Seeks Redemption in December Bout with Ryo Akaho
Newly formed promotional outlet Treasure Boxing Promotions has announced that three-division champion John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) will square off against Ryo Akaho (39-2-2, 26 KOs). In what will be a junior featherweight contest, the match will occur on December 3 at the Paradise City Resort Complex in Incheon, South Korea.
A BATTLE OF VETS
Casimero has won world titles at 108, 112, and 118 pounds. But it’s been a rough twelve months for the 32-year-old from Ormoc, Philippines. In December 2021, he withdrew from a scheduled WBO bantamweight title defense due against Paul Butler after falling ill. That bout was rescheduled for April 2022 in England. However, the British Boxing Board of Control removed Casimero from the contest after they deemed that he violated medical guidelines. Ultimately, the WBO stripped Casimero of the bantamweight strap.
Now he moves up in weight to tackle Akaho, a veteran within Japanese boxing circles. A two-time world title challenger, the 36-year-old from Yokohama, Japan has won thirteen bouts straight since a second-round KO loss to Panya Uthtok in August 2015 for the then-vacant WBO bantamweight belt. In his last outing, Akaho destroyed former world title challenger Edrin Dapudong in just 167 seconds in September 2022.
LOOKING TO MAKE ITS MARK
Treasure Promotions is a company based in Japan and headed by ex-WBO junior light champion Masayuki Ito. As part of the announcement, Ito took to social media to state that the company’s mission is to change the landscape of Japanese boxing. He hopes that starts with Casimero – Akaho on December 3.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
