Casimero in high spirits, waits for Inoue
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Apr 2020
Casimero whacks Nonoy Neri’s body shield during a home workout in Las Vegas yesterday.
WBO bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero said yesterday the longer the wait, the hungrier he is to put super WBA/IBF titlist Naoya Inoue to sleep when they finally square off in their triple unification showdown that was scheduled at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on April 25 but has been postponed indefinitely.
Casimero is holed up in a rented four-bedroom house in Las Vegas with trainer Nonoy Neri, assistant trainer Ting (Sugar) Ariosa and his brother Jayson. He left Manila to open camp in Miami with strength/conditioning coach Memo Heredia last February then moved to Las Vegas last month. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons, who arranged Casimero’s accommodations, said a state decision is expected on May 1 whether to open up Las Vegas’ economy or not. If the coronavirus situation is stabilized, the Casimero-Inoue fight could take place in early July.
Casimero isn’t sitting idly at home. Every day, he wakes up at 8, jogs around the neighborhood or at Sunset Park while maintaining social distance for at least an hour in the morning then does gym work for two hours in the afternoon. He’s keeping his weight steady at 130 so he has pounds to burn.
Before battling Inoue, Casimero could be in the US for five months but doesn’t mind. “Naisip kong umuwi kaya lang delikado bumiyahe sa eroplano dahil sa virus at mapuputol ang training,” he said. “Tiis na lang at ibubuhos ko ang inis kay Inoue. Sabik kong sapakin siya. Gigisingin ko si Inoue sa loob ng ring tapos patutulugin ko.”
Casimero said when he’s not limbering up, it's movie time on Netflix. His favorites are horror films. “Hinahanap ko si Monster sa horror movies,” he laughed. “Wala akong makitang Inoue. Nagtatago sa akin. ‘Di maraming napanood kong laban ni Inoue sa YouTube kasi mga walang laban ang kalaban. Sa kagalingan ni (Nonito) Donaire, tulog si Inoue. Ako na lang ang magpapatulog sa kaniya.”
Casimero shrugged off the news that Inoue has sparred with Filipino contenders K. J. Cataraja and Albert Pagara to prepare for him. “Maski na sino ang ka-sparring niya, bali wala sa akin,” he said. “Dati, easy-easy training kasi feeling ko, kayang-kaya kalaban. Ngayon, focus, hard training, discipline. Dapat walang kalawang sa laban. Sabi ni Senator Manny (Pacquiao), pray, work hard. Maraming salamat kay Senator sa kaniyang suporta sa akin at sa lahat ng kababayan natin na naghihirap sa lockdown. Malaking bagay ang tulong ni Senator sa atin lahat.”
Casimero said he’s not thinking homesick. “Maganda ang samahan namin sa bahay,” he said. “Si coach Nonoy, masarap ang luto niya, isda, gulay, manok at kaunting baka. Kung minsan, kain kami ng ice cream. Si Sir Sean, palaging bumibisita, sumasabay sa ensayo, baka may balak mag-comeback. Ako naman ang promoter niya.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Mar 2026Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
Wed, 04 Mar 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
Wed, 04 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
Tue, 03 Mar 2026STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS
Tue, 03 Mar 2026The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
Tue, 03 Mar 2026Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
Tue, 03 Mar 2026