Johnriel Casimero in Deep Trouble
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Feb 2022
Troubles, some say come in bunches.
That could be the case of Johnriel Casimero.
Casimero and his camp are now in the United States to begin preparations for his scheduled WBO world bantamweight title defense in April against British mandatory challenger Paul Butler in Liverpool, England.
But they are in danger of being deported back to the Philippines following the filing of petition by US boxing promoter Thomas "Tom" Brown of TGB Promotion to the US Immigration authorities withdrawing and seeking to revoke the remaining period of an earlier Nonimmigrant Working Visa he has applied and secured for Casimero in relation to his fight commitments under TGB and the Premier Boxing Champions.
No reason was given by Brown but it is suspected that it has something to do with Casimero's last successful title defense in Las Vegas versus Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux where Casimero reportedly left for the Philippines after the bout without first clearing his tax and other financial obligations to the government and other pertinent parties.
But more trouble awaits Casimero once back home as a court case has been filed by a 17 year old minor girl in Metro Manila for alleged acts of sexual lasciviousness, as reported recently by Sports columnist Joaquin Henson.
Casimero is already in trouble also with Probellum and the WBO for his failure to show up in the official weighin before his scheduled December 11, 2021 title defense against Butler in Dubai, UAE due to sudden stomach viral infection.
With that fight cancelled as Casimero had to be hospitalised, Johnriel got a sort of reprieve when the WBO upon presentation of his medical certificate, ruled that he remained champion while asking Probellum to reschedule the mandatory defense fight against Butler.
However, the WBO strictly forewarned that in the event Casimero failed again to show up in the reset fight for any reason including injury or sickness, he will be summarily stripped of his world title with Butler fighting a designated replacement for the vacancy.
Probellum has rescheduled his title defense versus Butler on April 22, 2022 (April 23 in Manila) in Liverpool, England.
But with Casimero facing possible deportation from the US and legal suit in the Philippines, not only his training and preparation may be in serious jeopardy but he may also encounter problems in securing visa from the UK as London is very strict on this matter.
Can Quadro Alas pull up more aces to extricate himself from these troubles?
Let us hope so.
In case, he couldn't, another Filipino Jonas Sultan who is rated fourth by the WBO and who once defeated Casimero is reportedly standing by to replace Casimero to do battle with Butler for what would be vacant WBO world bantamweight title in UK in April.
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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