John Riel Casimero Wants Inoue and Nery
For WBO World Bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs), 2020 was supposed to be the year like no other professionally. Boxing observers of the smaller weight divisions were in high anticipation of a unification fight between the 30-year-old and IBF/WBA “Super” World Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs).
Initially set to take place on April 25, 2020, on ESPN, the fight was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After re-negotiations to reschedule the bout fell through, Team Casimero decided to move on. The champ will instead face Duke Micah (24-0, 19 KOs) on September 26 at the Mohegan Sun Bubble on Showtime.
He was disappointed and frustrated in not landing what would have been a big-money dream fight. However, he has not closed the door on the possibility of fighting Inoue. As he told The Philippine Daily Star, he still wants a piece of the man they call “The Monster”.
“After I’ve finished this guy (Micah), I’m ready for another opponent. Maybe Inoue or maybe Luis Nery. One by one, we’re going to finish them all.”
Ironically, Nery (30-0, 24 KOs) is set to fight on the same September 26 Mohegan Sun card against Aaron Almeda (25-0, 13 KOs) for the vacant WBC World Super-Bantamweight title. If he defeats Almeda, a Nery v Casimero could very be in play for 2021.
Whether it’s Inoue, Nery or, any major fighter in and around 118-pounds, it’s obvious that Casimero is still hungry for the big fight. And fighting in the United States on SHOWTIME is a sign that folks are paying attention. The question is, will he get the big fight he has longed searched for?
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
