Congrats to WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero@casimerojr (30-4, 21 KO’s), who defeated Duke Micah (24-1, 19 KOs) by 3rd-Round TKO in his first United States Debut @ Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut.

Casimero stated, “I worked hard and got the win tonight. In the first round I saw the body shot hurt him and thought I could get him out right away, but he’s a good boxer who was undefeated for a reason.

“The second round the uppercut hurt him, but Duke Micah works hard, he’s strong and has a good chin. I knew I was facing a good fighter, so I didn’t expect to knock him out so fast. He’s strong so I was prepared to go all 12 rounds.

“I’m the real monster. Naoya Inoue is scared of me. You’re next. I would have knocked out anyone today. If Inoue doesn’t fight me, then I’ll fight Guillermo Rigondeaux, Luis Nery, or any of the top fighters.”

Photo by Amanda Westcott / SHOWTIME

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Weigh-In: WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel Casimero weighed 117 ¾ and undefeated challenger Duke Micah 117 ¼ for tomorrow night @ Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA #CharloDoubleheader Showtime #PPV

WEIGH-IN: WBO Jr. Featherweight World Champion Dina Thorslund 121.6 Vs. Nina Radovanovic 118.2 LBS for tomorrow night @ Struer Arena, Struer, Denmark

WBO Atomweight World Champion Mika Iwakawa weighed 101 lbs and challenger Nanae Suzuki weighed 100 lbs for tomorrow night @ Central Gym, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. The fight will be broadcast live on the official YouTube channel “BOXING REAL”

Weigh-In: WBO European Jr. Featherweight Champion David Oliver Joyce weighed 121 lbs and Ionut Baluta 121 lbs for tomorrow night @ BT Sport Studio, Stratford, London, United Kingdom.

WBO European Light Heavyweight Champion Ricards Bolotniks faces Hosea Burton tomorrow night at Studio 69, Riga, Latvia

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In boxing, the word journeyman is often code for inept, a lukewarm euphemism for a tomato can, ham-and-egger, has-been, palooka, and that most scornful of monikers, bum.

Which is why it might behoove one to exercise a certain level of discretion when applying that label to a fighter like John Riel Casimero. It turns out the word has several shades of meanings.

In the strictest, non-stigmatic sense of the word, the Filipino bantamweight is a journeyman through and through; there is just no hiding this. Just scan his BoxRec and you’ll find that since 2007, Casimero, 31, has scoured the globe looking for paydays in Thailand, Panama, Argentina, China, Mexico, Nicaragua, England, South Africa, and the United States. That makes 10 countries in all, including his homeland, making him something of an outsourcer’s dream.

But unlike his other well-travelled peers – and this is the key distinction – Casimero rarely loses.

Now, the Filipino road warrior will yet again defend his title on foreign soil when he takes on the undefeated Duke Micah (24-0, 19 KOs) of Ghana Saturday, September 26 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

More on https://www.premierboxingchampions.com/news/john-riel-casimero-journeyman-champion

Photo by Sumio Yamada

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A five-foot-five-inch, 118-pound Japanese monster is ready to take over the Las Vegas Strip. WBA/IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue, the three-weight world champion climbing the mythical pound-for-pound rankings, will make his Las Vegas debut Saturday, April 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in a unification bout against WBO bantamweight world champion and fellow three-weight kingpin Johnriel Casimero.

Inoue is coming off a memorable decision in the 2019 Ring Magazine and ESPN.com Fight of the Year against future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire. This will be Inoue’s first bout under his long-term promotional agreement with Top Rank.

Inoue-Casimero and the 10-round bantamweight tilt featuring WBO No. 1 contender Joshua “Don’t Blink” Greer Jr. and WBO No. 2 contender Jason Moloney will stream LIVE on ESPN+ beginning at 9 p.m. ET. In the final undercard bout on the ESPN+ stream, former super featherweight world champion Andrew Cancio will take on Tyler McCreary in a 10-rounder.

The preliminary bouts will air live on ESPN2 (7 p.m. ET) and will include the return of former world title challenger Alex “El Cholo” Saucedo in a 10-round super lightweight bout.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotions, MP Promotions, TGB Promotions and SGG Sports Promotions, tickets priced at $300, $200, $100, $50 and $25 (not including applicable fees) go on sale Friday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased online at www.axs.com or by phone at 888-929-7849.

“The ‘Monster’ is coming to Las Vegas, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He is a generational talent, a fierce competitor who is ready to take the United States by storm. Casimero is a seasoned champion, and Inoue knows he’s in for a firefight at Mandalay Bay.”

Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs), 26, won his first title in only his sixth pro fight, knocking out Adrian Hernandez to win the WBC light flyweight crown. He is 14-0 with 12 knockouts in world title bouts, as he defended his light flyweight title once before moving up two weight classes to knock out long-time WBO junior bantamweight world champion Omar Narvaez in two rounds in December 2014. He defended that belt seven times before setting his sights on the bantamweight division. His first three bantamweight title bouts lasted a total of four rounds, as he catapulted up pound-for-pound lists with stoppages over Emmanuel Rodriguez and Juan Carlos Payano. The Donaire bout — the final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament — was the ultimate gut check, as he suffered a broken orbital bone before prevailing in an instant classic.

“It is a tremendous honor and a dream come true to headline a card in Las Vegas against a great fighter like Casimero,” Inoue said. “It is my goal to be the undisputed bantamweight king, and I am coming to America to put on a great fight for the fans. I would like to thank Mr. Bob Arum and MGM Resorts for making my Las Vegas dream a reality. Now, the work begins, and I will kick off my 2020 schedule at Mandalay Bay in devastating fashion.”

Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs), from Ormoc City, Philippines, is a newly minted bantamweight world champion who upset South African southpaw Zolani Tete via third-round TKO last November in Birmingham England. A world traveler, Casimero has won world title bouts in Mexico, England, China, Panama and the Philippines, in addition to interim world title bouts in Argentina, Nicaragua and the United States. He is on a five-bout winning streak and is in his physical prime at 29 years old. The Inoue-Casimero winner will be one belt shy of completely unifying the division, as WBC world champion Nordine Oubaali holds the final piece of the championship puzzle.

“This is my dream fight. I have traveled the world and fought in 10 countries. I’ve won world titles at 108, 112 and 118 pounds,” Casimero said. “But ever since I saw my hero and fellow countryman, Senator Manny Pacquiao, fight in Las Vegas, that has been my dream. To everyone who thinks I am the underdog on April 25, I will shock the world and show the fans who the real ‘Monster’ is in the ring.”

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Scheduled six-fight ESPN+ stream set to begin at 2 pm ET/11 am PT

In a magnificent world title fight South Africa’s Zolani Tete (28-3, 21KOs) risks his WBO bantamweight title against Filipino interim WBO champion John Riel Casimero (28-4, 19KOs) where the winner will be likely to face IBF and WBA title holder Naoya Inoue in 2020.

Liverpool puncher Sam Maxwell (12-0 (10KOs) defends his WBO European super lightweight crown against unbeaten Connor Parker (12-0, 1KO) from Derbyshire.

Here are a selection of quotes from today’s press conference

ZOLANI TETE

“I have been out injured because of shoulder tendonitis, but the way I have been training it shouldn’t bother me. I didn’t need surgery, but it took a couple of months to get it right. Mentally and physically I am still there and the injury will not stand in my way. It was frustrating getting injured in the World Boxing Super Series and pulling out, but Casimero is one of the best.

Hopefully after this defence my next fight will be Naoya Inoue. If I beat Casimero that fight is a step closer. It is possible to meet Inoue next year.

My promoter Mr Frank Warren will do his best to make the fight happen. My shoulder will not come off, but you will see punches bouncing off Casimero’s head. He is a good fighter though who can come forward and has power, but we will deal with those things.

JOHN RIEL CASIMERO

“This is a good fight and I will give a good performance. My advantage is power and stamina. My promoter Manny Pacquiao had told me that if I’ve worked hard I can win. This is my second time boxing here and in the first fight Charlie Edwards was beaten. I am a better fighter now. Zolani is a good boxer and tough, but second to me. I will do my best to knock him out.”

 

SEAN GIBBONS (President, Manny Pacquiao Promotions)

“To have Senator Manny Pacquiao behind you tells you how good Casimero is. The Senator can sign a lot of fighters, but only goes with good ones. Casimero has travelled the world and feels comfortable here. He is one of the top three or four fighters in the Philippines.”

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Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions are heading to the Midlands to stage a bumper night of boxing at Arena Birmingham Saturday November 30, live on BT Sport.

Tickets will go on general sale on Friday 18th October at 12pm via Ticketmaster and Ticketfactory.

The bill is stacked with 50-50 clashes featuring six title fights. The show will feature:

Zolani Tete v John Reil Casimero (WBO World Bantamweight Championship)
Sam Maxwell v Connor Parker (WBO European Super Lightweight Championship)
Hamzah Sheeraz will contest the vacant WBO European Super Welterweight Championship against an opponent to be named this week.

Zolani Tete (28-3, 21KOs) makes the fourth defence of his WBO World Bantamweight title against John Riel Casimero after his promoter Frank Warren won the purse bids.

It will be Tete’s first fight since October 2018 when he defeated Russia’s Mikhail Aloyan in the World Boxing Super Series. Unfortunately injury then ruled him out of the tournament.

“I have fully recovered from the shoulder injury and I will be testing it on Casimero’s chin. I am back,” warned the South African.

Filipino Casimero (28-4,19KOs) stopped Charlie Edwards in a IBF Flyweight title defence here in 2016 and is brimming after capturing the Interim WBO crown.

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Filipino boxing star and three-division world champion John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero dominated Mexico’s Cesar “Perico” Ramirez en route to a tenth-round knockout win to retain the WBO Interim Bantamweight World Championship, Saturday evening.

The Casimero-Ramirez tussle was the marquee attraction of the Manny Pacquiao Championship Boxing offering at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

Casimero was simply too much for the Mexican challenger as he outclassed Ramirez and put the former WBC FECOMBOX Champion down on multiple occasions leading up to the tenth-round finish.

The smaller Casimero uncorked a solid left uppercut and followed up with a vicious right hook that landed flush on the jaw, sending Ramirez’s mouthpiece flying before the Mexican dropped to the canvas.

With the win, Casimero extended his winning streak to four straight and now sets up a WBO Bantamweight World Championship unification bout against reigning titleholder Zolani Tete of South Africa.

Via https://sports.abs-cbn.com

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Filipino Interim WBO Bantamweight world champion John Riel Casimero (24-4, 18 KO’s) and taller Mexican challenger Cesar “Perico” Ramirez (18-3, 11 KO’s) successfully made weight ahead of their title battle this Saturday, August 24, at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

The battle will air live on ABS CBN S+A channel 23 starting at 7:00 PM.

The challenger from Colonia Los Fresnos in Tepic, Nayarit, easily made 117.6 pounds in his first try.

Casimero, 30, had to go to extra two hours of sweating to make the limit of the bantamweight division, 118 pounds.

According to WBO fight supervisor Leon Panoncillo, the winner of the clash is mandated to battle WBO regular bantamweight world champion Zolani Tete (28-3, 21 KO’s).

“I am going to win. I have dreamed about being a world champion this for too long. This is my golden door and I am walking in,” said the 31 year-old Ramirez, in his second war in a foreign land.

Three years ago Ramirez battled then Ryan Burnett (20-1, 10 KO’s) in Leeds, England, losing by points. This time he is gunning for the gold.

Via news.abs-cbn.com

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CEBU, Philippines — John Riel ‘Quadro Alas’ Casimero will put his interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight belt on the line against Mexican toughie Cesar “Perico” Ramirez on August 24 at the Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

This marks for the first time that the fighting pride of Ormoc City will defend the WBO throne he seized with a 12th round knockout of Ricardo Espinoza Franco last April 20 at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.

With his resounding victory in his bantamweight debut, the 30-year-old Casimero joined the ranks of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Donnie Nietes as the only Filipino boxers who won three world titles in different weight classes. He once held court in the IBF light flyweight and flyweight divisions.

Casimero, who is currently training in Los Angeles, holds a 27-4 record packed with 18KOs, while Ramirez sport an 18-3 card with 11KOs.

Since suffering his first and only loss at the hands of Ryan Burnett three years ago, Ramirez established himself as a power-hitter having won five of his last six bouts via stoppage. EBV

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-sports/2019/07/25/1937644/casimero-defend-wbo-title-manila#g2vuA6XHU1DAe5Kr.99

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WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE BANTAMWEIGHT INTERIM RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, a petition was filed on Monday, April 12, 2019 on behalf of the representatives of WBO’s #1 Bantamweight contender and reigning WBO Bantamweight Latino Champion, Mr. Ricardo Espinoza, and former Jr. Flyweight World Champion, Mr. John Riel Casimero; and,

WHEREAS, the petitioner considers that the current inactive status of the WBO Bantamweight division held by its current champion, Mr. Zolani Tete, is due to the official dates, venues and completion of the World Boxing Series Tournament; and,

WHEREAS, the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Tournament began on October 13, 2018, its completion is determined once they have the winners of each group in their quarter finals, semi-finals and finals that can be prolonged over the span of the year; and,

WHEREAS, the petitioner holds a scheduled WBO International Bantamweight Championship bout date between Mr. Espinoza and Mr. Casimero, he seeks the bout be sanctioned as an Interim WBO Championship bout while the tournament situation is resolved; and,

WHEREAS, the petitioner notes that due to the division inactivity the WBO Bantamweight division rated contenders suffer detrimental damages and opportunity losses, while vying for the WBO Bantamweight Championship Title; and,

WHEREAS, Mr. Tete acquired his title on April 22, 2017, he only defended it on three occasions – November 18, 2017 against Siboniso Gonya, April 21, 2018 against Omar Narvaez, and on October 13, 2018 against Mikhail Aloyan, who was also his first quarter final contender of the WBSS Tournament; and,

WHEREAS, the WBO World Championship Committee recognizes the importance of allowing their champions the discretion to participate in activities they may deem as of career importance, the Committee must also be fair to all of its rated contenders; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the WBO World Championship Committee that given all of the above and in the best interests of all our classified Bantamweight contenders and to benefit the Sport of Boxing as a whole, the WBO Interim Bantamweight Championship be approved.

This is a final decision of the WBO World Championship Committee. The decision may be appealed to the Complaint and Grievance Committee, pursuant to WBO World Championship Section 34, which as per Rule 3(e) of the WBO Appeals Regulation, must be submitted in writing to the WBO President within fourteen (14) days of the date of this decision as its sole and exclusive remedy.

Dated in San Juan, Puerto Rico on this 16 of April 2019.

By: Luis Batista-Salas, Esq. – Chairman
WBO CHAMPIONSHIP COMMITTEE

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