John Riel Casimero vs. Paul Butler - OFF

[jameswilson]

I've only just twigged this isn't promoted by Queensbury. Has Edwards upped and left?

[maverick23]

I've only just twigged this isn't promoted by Queensbury. Has Edwards upped and left?

It’s all a bit weird. It seems the bulk of the MTK managed guys have stopped appearing on Frank’s shows and are either working on shows promoted by MTK or Probellum.

No one has asked Frank right out about though which is probably a sign that he’s asked them not to.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release | Bakhodir Jalolov Added To Probellum Card in Dubai on December 11

Olympic Gold medalist Bakhodir Jalolov has been added to Probellum's Revolution card, the UAE’s first world championship boxing event, in the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday December 11.

The unbeaten Uzbekistani fighter will compete at Probellum’s inaugural event in Dubai next month, making his first appearance since winning super heavyweight Gold at the Tokyo Olympics, in association with DiBella Entertainment.

The reputation of Jalolov, 27, continues to grow, and he will now showcase his talents on a card which includes two world title bouts.

Having won Gold at the 2019 World Championships, Jalolov triumphed once again at the 2020 Olympics, which were delayed by a year due to Covid-19, beating USA’s Richard Torrez on points.

“I am very excited to return to my professional boxing career, this has been my priority as it contains the main part of my long-term goal after the Olympics,” said Jalolov. “To fight in Dubai is an added bonus and there is a responsibility for me to be at my best because I know that I already have a lot of fans there and many of my Uzbek and international followers will attend the event.”

Vadim Kornolov, Jolalov’s manager, added: “We are very excited for Bakhodir Jalolov to be a part of a major event in Dubai. This will be Jalolov’s first professional fight after his success in the Olympics and we are looking forward to him making a statement that the fans will remember.”

Lou DiBella, Jolalov’s promoter, said: “Bakhodir Jalolov, the reigning Olympic super-heavyweight Gold medalist, has been boxing’s dominant amateur big man. The Big Uzbek is 6’7”, 27 years old, and 8-0 (8 KOs) as a pro.

“With crunching power and unusual agility for a man of his size, this future world champion is poised to rise up the heavyweight rankings in 2022. I’m pleased and grateful that he will resume his pro career on December 11, in Dubai, at Probellum: The Revolution, the company’s loaded inaugural event.”

“We’re absolutely delighted to add Bakhodir to what was already a brilliant card,” added Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum.

“Not only is Bakhodir an Olympic Gold medalist, he is also undefeated in his career to date, and we are looking forward to watching him in action at the Coca-Cola Arena. The fans attending this event will undoubtedly enjoy some top-quality fight action.”

Probellum: The Revolution sees Sunny Edwards defend his IBF flyweight title against Jayson Mama, while John Riel Casimero puts his WBO bantamweight title on the line against Paul Butler.

Other stars confirmed for the event include Donnie Nietes, Archie Sharp and Jono Carroll, with UAE fighters Sultan Al Nuaimi and Fahad Al Bloushi also in action.

[margaret thatcher]

hopefully big jolly fights someone half decent soon

[TheLeprechaun]

I think this is a complete mismatch

[Boxing Prospect]

How does Butler legitimately get a mandatory shot in the current Bantamweight scene? I know some will say "He was supposed to fight Agbeko in an eliminator", for which the obvious follow up is "why are either of those two even close to a world title fight?" It's a great division (Inoue, Donaire, Casimero, Rigondeaux, Oubaaliu, Gaballo, Rodriogiez, Russell, Warren, Sultan, Moloney, Payano, Nishida, McGregor, Potapov, Little Inoue, Kurihara) there's no legitimate reason for Agbeko to have been close to a world title eliminator, and I can't see how Butler got one either.

Hopefully Casimero, Donaire and Inoue win in their next bouts and we move on to unification bouts through 2022.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

– Newly launched Probellum boxing promotion inaugural event live on FreeSports
– The Main Event this weekend sees Sunny Edwards defend his IBF Flyweight title against Jayson Mama
– The co-main event features Paul Butler fighting for the WBO World Bantamw Title against Casimero
– Lewis Ritson faces Christian Uruzquieta in the main event next weekend in Sunderland
– Both events available live and free on FreeSports

FreeSports is delighted to announce they will broadcast the newly-launched PROBELLUM boxing promotion as it hosts its first major event this Saturday December 11th in Dubai. The full event will be available from 4pm GMT on Premier Sports 2 and allegedly while FreeSports will join the coverage at 5.30pm GMT for the main events available free to watch in every home in the UK.

The headline event at PROBELLUM: Revolution this weekend sees surging IBF World Super Flyweight Champion and London born boxer, Sunny Edwards (16-0, 4 KO) make his first world title defence against fellow undefeated pugilist Jayson Mama (16-0, 9 KO), who has the skillset needed to trouble the elusive Edwards.

A world championship co-feature features WBO World Bantamweight Champion John Riel Casimero (31-4, 21 KO) defends his hard-fought title against mandatory contender Paul Butler (33-2, 15 KO) at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, UAE.

Three-division champ Casimero has won 7 straight with 6 monstrous knockouts. His most recent win was the biggest of his career, defeating two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux. The contender Paul Butler aka ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ hailing from Cheshire, England, is a former IBF World Bantamweight Champion and looks to utilize his savvy boxing style to re-assert himself at the top of the sport.

FreeSports will also have live and free coverage the following Saturday December 18th of the second show PROBELLUM: Unstoppable. This show sees crowd-favourites Lewis Ritson (21-2, 12 KO), Thomas Patrick Ward (30-0, 4 KO) and three time world champion Ricky Burns (43-8, 16 KO) return to action as new global Boxing promotion PROBELLUM plants its flag in the United Kingdom at Rainton Meadows Arena in Sunderland.

Richard Webb, COO of Premier Sports/FreeSports commented, “We are delighted to partner with Probellum to broadcast these inaugural boxing events this December and make it available free to watch in every UK home in the UK. Both events feature popular British boxers we’re confident will be a big hit for our viewers and we’re looking forward to the coverage.”

Richard Schaefer, Probellum President said, “To be able to broadcast our very first event free to air in the UK, one which will go down in history with a terrific card is incredibly important to us and we’re thankful to FreeSports for their partnership in making this happen.”

FreeSports is available as a free to air sports channel operating in the UK on Sky HD Channel 422, Virgin TV HD Channel 553, Freeview Channel 64, BT/TalkTalk Channel 64, Samsung TV Plus and online via the FreeSports Player. Premier Sports 2 is available on Sky channel 429, Virgin TV 552 while allegedly is on Sky channel 427, BT/TalkTalk channel 415 and Virgin TV channel 546. Premier Sports and allegedly are both available via online streaming on the Premier Player.

[mickey1975]

I've only just twigged this isn't promoted by Queensbury. Has Edwards upped and left?

It’s all a bit weird. It seems the bulk of the MTK managed guys have stopped appearing on Frank’s shows and are either working on shows promoted by MTK or Probellum.

No one has asked Frank right out about though which is probably a sign that he’s asked them not to.

It's probably a sign MTK control IFL.

[maverick23]

I've only just twigged this isn't promoted by Queensbury. Has Edwards upped and left?

It’s all a bit weird. It seems the bulk of the MTK managed guys have stopped appearing on Frank’s shows and are either working on shows promoted by MTK or Probellum.

No one has asked Frank right out about though which is probably a sign that he’s asked them not to.

It's probably a sign MTK control IFL.

There’s probably an element of that - MTK have certainly their main sponsor for last few years. Surely though it’s better to appear on a BT show rather on IFL. I know everyone has access to YouTube but financially they’d get more from BT and probably a similar amount of viewers as BT can promote whilst it’s harder for IFL to get outside of their subscriber base.

[bigped]

Fight off

Butler vs 44 year old agbeko for the vacant belt now

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight off

Butler vs 44 year old agbeko for the vacant belt now

What happened to Casimero?

Butler chances have just increased significantly..

[maverick23]

Fight off

Butler vs 44 year old agbeko for the vacant belt now

Christ. Not a great start for Probellum.

Any idea why it’s off?

Butler has just hit the jackpot - crazy to think he could be a 2 time world champ.

[bigped]

Casimero taken to hospital struggling to
Make weight supposedly

[Ruthless-RKO]

Casimero out of world title defense, Butler gets Agbeko as new opponent

There's no official word yet from the WBO whether Johnriel Casimero has been stripped of his title after a no-show in the weigh-in reportedly due to viral gastritis

MANILA, Philippines – Johnriel Casimero was unable to make it to the official weigh-in on Friday, December 10, and was stricken out of his World Boxing Organization bantamweight title defense against Paul Butler of England in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Butler will be fighting two-time world bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko of Ghana instead on Saturday at the Coca-Cola Arena.

According to Casimero’s cutman Stephen Lunas, Casimero got struck down by viral gastritis Thursday night and couldn’t recover in time for the weigh-in of Probellum’s inaugural fight card.

Lunas, a registered nurse, posted on Facebook: “Viral gastritis sucks. But first and foremost the health of an athlete is more important than the sport itself. Get well soon champ Quadro Alas. Fight another day!”

In the Casimero Family vlog, Casimero was shown in the background lying in bed, using his mobile phone as his sister, Sherlyn, answers queries from both fans and bashers.

Casimero’s non-appearance in the weigh-in came amid reports he has problems trimming down to 118 pounds, although two days ago Team Casimero claimed he was just two pounds off the limit.

Agbeko’s name popped up after promoter Scott Patrick Farrell posted on Facebook that the fighter is “stepping in to fight Paul Butler tomorrow night on Probellum in Dubai” and they’re just “waiting to hear confirmation from the WBO if this will still be a world title fight.”

There’s no official word yet from the WBO whether Casimero has been stripped of his title. Knowledgeable sources, however, are leaning toward the Filipino’s disappearance from the champions’ roster. – Rappler.com

[maverick23]

Butler’s playing this well. He’s saying that unless it’s for a world title then he’s not fighting. Will be interesting to see if they get it sorted.

If a fighter fails to make weight then they’re stripped but Casimero will argue he didn’t fail weight so should keep the belt.

I know it shouldn’t surprise me but it’s crazy that Agbeko’s number 2 in the rankings given he’s fought once in 2 years and hasn’t beat a credible opponent in 6/7 years.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Butler’s playing this well. He’s saying that unless it’s for a world title then he’s not fighting. Will be interesting to see if they get it sorted.

If a fighter fails to make weight then they’re stripped but Casimero will argue he didn’t fail weight so should keep the belt.

I know it shouldn’t surprise me but it’s crazy that Agbeko’s number 2 in the rankings given he’s fought once in 2 years and hasn’t beat a credible opponent in 6/7 years.

Yeh, technically, he didn't make the weigh in, kinda pulled out before hand didn't he. But WBO can argue, it was weight related.

#2? Since when?

Two websites say he's no 8

and WBO's own rankings say he's #10 for November

[Ruthless-RKO]

“Watching (Casimero) in and around the hotel, he didn’t look in a great place trying to make weight,” Butler told iFL TV. “Every time I’d walk past the treadmills to go outside to just chill at the pool, he was on them. He was outside Wednesday in the sun, just shadowboxing with his sweatsuit on, a belt around him. You could see he was struggling, but he’s had eight, nine weeks to get to this point.”

[maverick23]

Butler’s playing this well. He’s saying that unless it’s for a world title then he’s not fighting. Will be interesting to see if they get it sorted.

If a fighter fails to make weight then they’re stripped but Casimero will argue he didn’t fail weight so should keep the belt.

I know it shouldn’t surprise me but it’s crazy that Agbeko’s number 2 in the rankings given he’s fought once in 2 years and hasn’t beat a credible opponent in 6/7 years.

Yeh, technically, he didn't make the weigh in, kinda pulled out before hand didn't he. But WBO can argue, it was weight related.

#2? Since when?

Two websites say he's no 8

and WBO's own rankings say he's #10 for November

I looked at the rankings per Fightnews which lists the top 15 of each organisation. Perhaps it’s out of date.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Butler’s playing this well. He’s saying that unless it’s for a world title then he’s not fighting. Will be interesting to see if they get it sorted.

If a fighter fails to make weight then they’re stripped but Casimero will argue he didn’t fail weight so should keep the belt.

I know it shouldn’t surprise me but it’s crazy that Agbeko’s number 2 in the rankings given he’s fought once in 2 years and hasn’t beat a credible opponent in 6/7 years.

Yeh, technically, he didn't make the weigh in, kinda pulled out before hand didn't he. But WBO can argue, it was weight related.

#2? Since when?

Two websites say he's no 8

and WBO's own rankings say he's #10 for November

I looked at the rankings per Fightnews which lists the top 15 of each organisation. Perhaps it’s out of date.

Yeh, the WBO haven't updated their rankings on their website for December,

[Ruthless-RKO]

Casimero still world champion.

Butler-Agbeko will be for the Interim WBO belt.

[maverick23]

Casimero still world champion.

Butler-Agbeko will be for the Interim WBO belt.

Butler-Agbeko is no longer happening. Not sure why. Not a great look for this first show.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Casimero still world champion.

Butler-Agbeko will be for the Interim WBO belt.

Butler-Agbeko is no longer happening. Not sure why. Not a great look for this first show.

No way.

Helpfully we find out why.

[stujones]

I might be slow in responding but fight news reporting cos Butler stuck to his word and would only fight for a world title.

Whilst I admire him for sticking to his word a part of me also thinks it kind of makes a mockery of the status of world champion. Surely "the best in the world" would fancy his chances against a 44 year old sub. Unless of course he got his pay day anyway, in that case then very smart.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I might be slow in responding but fight news reporting cos Butler stuck to his word and would only fight for a world title.

Whilst I admire him for sticking to his word a part of me also thinks it kind of makes a mockery of the status of world champion. Surely "the best in the world" would fancy his chances against a 44 year old sub. Unless of course he got his pay day anyway, in that case then very smart.

Interim world champion.

Guarantees you a title shot against the belt holder and/or being gifted the vacant belt.

Surely he thought he could beat Agbeko.