Options for Casimero
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 13 Aug 2020
Like the proverbial hot potato, both Bob Arum and Naoya Inoue have let go of Johnriel Casimero.
Now it can be told that Casimero was right in saying that Inoue was avoiding him since their cancelled April 25 fight date due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Inexplicably, Inoue has been tarrying his coming to the USA despite his outstanding contractual obligation to Top Rank and his full knowledge that Casimero has been there since February and awaiting for his arrival to firm up the rescheduling of their cancelled bout.
What could be the reason for such delay? Difficulty in securing a US visa has been advanced by his camp. But Inoue has fought in the US back in late 2017. It is easier for Inoue and for that matter, a Japanese to enter the US than an American to enter Japan as things stand right now under the current circumstances.
The obvious conclusion is that Inoue is avoiding a fight with Casimero for now. A report from Asiaboxing suggests that his local handlers at Teikken wanted the Casimero fight, if ever, to be held in Japan.
Arum could have gotten the message.
Hence he also delayed the rescheduling of that fight in the expectation that Casimero in exasperation, himself give up the chase. When Johnriel did not, Arum set the precondition of a pay cut with the ultimatum that if Casimero does not agree, he will be force to replace him.
But without even waiting for Casimero's formal response, Arum went ahead and negotiated a deal with Australian Jason Moloney, obviously with the approval of Inoue.
So, given Arum's penchant for in-house fights and Inoue's reluctance to face Casimero, most likely, it will be Inoue versus Moloney this coming fall in the US.
Casimero is thus left holding an empty bag.
What are his options given this likely scenario?
In view of the fact that it was Arum who initiated the original fight for which contracts have been signed and that Casimero has been in the US since February for that originally scheduled fight and has remained since its cancellation for rescheduling, he has the right to demand some compensation for all the trouble and expenses incurred.
He could also probably demand a sort of step aside fee to allow a meeting between Inoue and Moloney especially if it is for Inoue's world titles since his original fight with the Japanese was a triple title unification.
And since it is Arum by virtue of the original contracts that brought him to the US and forced him to an extended stay beside the pandemic lockdown, Arum has the obligation to see to it that he gets to fight at least in the undercard of the Inoue-Moloney or any forthcoming major Top Rank promotion cards.
Casimero stands to get a double whammy as he does not only lose a big payday against Inoue, he also loses his WBO mandatory challenger Moloney who he could fight even in Australia, if the price is right.
Johnriel has very little options in the US as MP Promotions has no license to operate there.
But with his stature, some other US boxing promoters may take an interest in promoting his next fight. It was reported earlier that Joshua Greer is eager to face him with or without the title at stake.
But Casimero is also facing a breach of managerial and promotional contract suit filed in Las Vegas by former world champion Morris East.
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.
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