Casimero's Japanese Handlers Keeping Him Away From Inoue?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Sep 2024
The high expectation is that Johnriel Casimero latching up with a Japanese promoter will bring him closer to a long sought after fight versus Naoya Inoue.
Two years later, and now on his fourth assignment with Treasure Boxing Promotion, Johnriel is apparently no nearer from his cherished matchup. He is set to face American Saul Sanchez on October 13, 2024 in Yokohama in a bout with no clear significance on his chase of Inoue.
This has prompted the question, is his signing up with Treasure really meant to keep him off Inoue?
Recall that his first bout under Treasure of former champion Masayoshi Ito was held in Incheon, South Korea against the marginally rated Ryo Akaho.
The fight was declared a technical draw after the Japanese referee Michiaki Someya ruled that Akaho was unable to continue near the end of the 2nd round as a result of an alleged rabbit punch by Casimero. The referee had earlier credited Akaho with a knockdown which was more the result of Casimero losing his balance.
The replay showed that Casimero, irked by the incident, was virtually mauling Akaho in the balance of the second round when a punch grazed Akaho near the nape area as he desperately tried to run away from Johnriel's fusillade of punches.
The result was roundly booed by the majority South Korean crowd. Later Casimero's management put the result under protest with the Korean Boxing Commission which later overturned the referee's ruling and declared Johnriel winner by TKO.
In Casimero's second fight he was pitted against another little known opponent, Filippus Nghitumbwa of Namibia at the Okada Hotel back in Manila which he won by a bruising unanimous decision for the so called WBO Global super bantamweight crown.
In his third fight, a fight was finally set in Japan and he was pitted against former IBF super bantamweight titlist Yukinori Oguni. It was concededly quite a disappointing performance by Casimero as he seemingly was not at his best form. Yet Johnriel showed his tiger heart and in a wild exchange a profusely bleeding cut on the forehead of Oguni which cause was unclear forced the referee to call a halt and rule a deserved technical draw.
Ito later observed that Casimero seemingly lacked stamina and recommended a change of coach-trainer or that he hires the services a physical conditioner to complement his training.
Johnriel's response to his promoter's observation is yet unknown. But his performance against a dangerous foe as Sanchez will tell us if he is deserving of a crack at Inoue.
Or he better cut the chase altogether.
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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