Casimero Must be Patient as Arum Holds Key to Inoue Fight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 07 Jul 2020
Patience is a virtue.
Heaven holds a place for those who wait.
Johnriel Casimero must be patient as it is not Naoya Inoue but promoter Bob Arum who holds the key to their fight happening sooner or later in the United States.
The one thing Casimero should avoid at this point in time apart from showing any sign that could be misconstrued as disinterest, is being seen as an arrogant, impatient self-entitled brat.
He may be a world titleholder as the WBO champion but Inoue is the acknowledged world champion as holder of the WBA, IBF and the Ring lineal titles. As such, Inoue is the A side of their pairing and undoubtedly the main attraction in their projected confrontation.
More than those, Inoue is a top ward of Top Rank Promotion's Bob Arum who is eyeing the Japanese phenom as his next Manny Pacquiao, something that he has failed to do with his other prized fighter, Terrence Crawford.
So determined is Arum that he has actually planned the re-introduction of Inoue to the US fans in his championship debut in the American ring.
Significantly, Arum himself picked Casimero as Inoue's opponent for that big fight originally set for April 25 but had to be cancelled and now rescheduled due to the pandemic.
Arum has since been at the forefront of reviving professional boxing in the US under a two-phase plan intended to ease the sport to a new normal where big fights would be open to limited number of live spectators in line with the health protocols against the Coronavirus pandemic.
The first phase carried out through fight promotions virtually held behind closed doors has been successful enough as far as putting into place and testing the necessary safeguards preparatory to the staging of big fights.
Arum in effect has been laying the groundwork for the return of live arena big time boxing particularly in the Las Vegas area and the Inoue-Casimero fight is among his top priorities.
He himself confirmed that in talks with the sports media recently.
Contracts for the original April 25 date had been signed and Arum said that it is only the inability of Inoue to secure a new US visa that has been constraining him to set a final reschedule though he is eyeing a date in September or October at most.
That fight is very important and has continued to be eagerly awaited by fans in the US and elsewhere as it will take Inoue-- or Casimero-- just a title away from unifying all the championship belts at bantamweight.
It is good that, as this writer earlier strongly suggested, Johnriel has reconsidered his plan to return to the Philippines and is extending his stay in the US until the status of his fight versus Inoue becomes clear.
But it is not advisable for Johnriel to be issuing statements in the mainstream and even the social media that tend to question the willingness and readiness of Arum to push through with the fight and Inoue to do battle with him inside the ring.
Confidence is one thing.
Being cocky is another.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Mexican legend Jackie Nava inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 15 Jun 2026Ronnie Alvarez Dominates Filip Stankovic, Scores Seventh-Round TKO at Desert Diamond Arena
Sun, 14 Jun 2026THE CROWNING OF BAM: Rodriguez Overcomes Early Storm to Detonate Vargas in Six, Eyes Inoue Super-Fight
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Jun 2026New York Knicks win the NBA Championship with historic comeback
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 14 Jun 2026Panamanian superstar Nataly Delgado wins 115lb female WBA world championship in Orlando, Florida
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 14 Jun 2026IBA Bare Knuckle to make historic United States debut in Miami
Sun, 14 Jun 2026Laurente remains undefeated, TKOs Aguan in Gensan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 14 Jun 2026Foundation stone laid for the first-ever IBA arena in Dushanbe
Sun, 14 Jun 2026Jerick Faeldonia Wins One Chess Movement Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Jun 2026Bam Rodriguez vs Antonio Vargas & Martinez vs Cardenas Preview and Picks
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Jun 2026Popper vs. Seldon Jr. Official Weights for June 13 in Atlantic City
Sat, 13 Jun 2026GLENDALE, AZ FIGHT WEEK: OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR BAM VS VARGAS – LIVE ON DAZN
Sat, 13 Jun 2026Undefeated Middleweight Amir Anderson Meets Jonas Sylvain in Battle of Unbeatens on DAZN
Sat, 13 Jun 2026Munsayac, Celones get FMA award
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Jun 2026Weigh-In Results for Sanman 101: Laurente Eyes Home Victory
Fri, 12 Jun 2026