SPORTS SHORTS 274: JOHN RIEL CASIMERO MAY LOSE TITLE FOR THE SECOND TIME OUTSIDE THE RING BUT HIS CAMP INSISTS "VIRAL GASTRITIS" CAUSES HIS WITHDRAWAL
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 11 Dec 2021
John Riel Casimero may lose his WBO bantamweight title without fighting. His title belt maybe stripped from him after he withdrew from his mandatory defense against England's Paul Butler. The fight was scheduled Saturday at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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Casimero's cutman Stephen Lunas posted on Facebook that the Ormoc native suffers "viral gastritis" which made him unable to attend the weigh-in. He added: "But first and foremost, the health of an athlete is more important than the sport itself. Get well soon, champ.”
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Rumors circulated that Casimero (31-4, 21KOs) could not make the 118-lb. bantamweight limit in time for Friday’s official pre-fight weigh-in. The promoter Probellum released an official statement that the three-division champion had to pull out of the fight with Paul Butler after being unable to make it to the weigh in.
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To replace Casimero is Joseph Agbeko of Ghana, who made it to the bantamweight weight limit together with Butler in the official weigh-in.
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The fight card will still have Donnie Nietes fighting in the undercard against Norbelto Jimenez of Dominican Republic and Jayson Mama challenging IBF super-flyweight champion Sunny Edwards. Both Nietes and Mama were able to make the weight limits.
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“It’s hugely disappointing that Paul isn’t fighting Casimero because training camp has gone really well,” Butler’s trainer Joe Gallagher told The Ring.
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“What I find weird is that the kid pulls out and the guy Paul was supposed to fight in an eliminator months back is already here and ready to step into the fight. It’s a bit like the Olympics; you just turn up and whoever you draw, that’s it."
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Butler and Agbeko were scheduled to fight for a WBO title eliminator in June but the match did not push through. Butler is willing to fight Agbeko but he has declared to reporters in Dubai that he will fight only if the WBO belt is at stake.
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Butler (33-2, 15 KOs) is rated No. 1 bantamweight contender by the WBO while Agbeko (38-5, 28 KOs) is at the No. 10 rank.
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Should the WBO bantamweight title be declared vacant, it will be the second time that Casimero will lose a belt for failure to make the weight limit.
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The 32-year-old slugger lost his IBF junior flyweight title at the scales after weighing almost six pounds above the limit. Afterwards he scored a first-round knockout of Mauricio Fuentes on May 3, 2014 in Cebu City.
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Casimero subsequently won the IBF flyweight title by a fourth-round knockout of long-reigning and then-unbeaten titlist Amnat Ruenroeng in a rematch on May 25, 2016.
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Casimero lost a controversial twelve-round, unanimous decision to Ruenroeng in their first encounter on June 27, 2015 at the Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok, Thailand.
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With the withdrawal of the Casimero-Butler title fight, unbeaten IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards will be lifted to the main event in his mandatory title defense versus Jayson Mama.
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In a latest development, Casimero still remains a bantamweight champion, but with a timetable. He was issued a Show Cause notice by the WBO, who has given Casimero ten days to present medical proof of his withdrawal from his mandatory title defense against Butler.
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“On Thursday, December 9, 2021, the WBO confirmed receipt of email correspondence on behalf of Probellum’s Chief Legal Officer, Mr. Harrison Whitman indicating that approximately at 2:00 a.m. local time in Dubai, UAE, you were admitted to the American Hospital Dubai in Dubai, UAE,” Luis Batista-Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee wrote to Casimero as published by Boxing Scene.
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“Upon admission a team member of your camp named Mr. Stephen Lunas Jr., confirmed to Mr. Whitman via text messages through the “WhatsApp” chat application, that you were unable to participate in the schedule WBO Bantamweight Championship bout against Paul Butler on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai, AUE."
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“In light of your alleged medical condition and unavailability to participate in the WBO Championship bout against Butler, Probellum informed the WBO that current number 10 rated WBO Bantamweight Contender, Joseph Agbeko is ready, willing and able to participate against Butler. Therefore, Mr. Whitman seeks authorization to grant sanction approval for the WBO Bantamweight Championship Title between Butler & Agbeko.”
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Agbeko will now face Butler with the WBO interim bantamweight title online. The winner could receive an upgrade to full champion in the event Casimero is unable to provide sufficient medical proof of his reported ailment.
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“Having considered the aforementioned circumstances, and the conditions stated in the Casimero/Butler purse bid proceeding minutes dated Thursday, October 7, 2021, this Committee will authorize sanction for an Interim WBO Bantamweight Championship Contest of Butler/Agbeko."
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"Nevertheless, you (Casimero) are hereby ordered to show cause within the next 10 days upon issuance of this letter to submit a medical certification by institution which you were admitted for medical treatment as well as your medical record pertaining to such admittance at the American Hospital Dubai in Dubai, UAE."
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“Wherefore, you are hereby forewarned that failure to comply with the conditions set forth herein will result in the Committee declaring the WBO Bantamweight Championship “Vacant”, “Ipso Facto” without further notice, citation, or hearing and with the Committee elevating the winner of the Interim of the WBO World Championship bout between Butler & Agbeko to full status as the WBO Bantamweight Champion accordingly.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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