Naoya Inoue vs. Johnriel Casimero - (Postponed)

[Delta Jay]

Moloney vs Greer looks like a great fight. Does anyone know if it’s an eliminator of some kind? Sorry RKO mentioned it, there’s just so much to sift through there.

I think Casimero’s style is perfect for Naoya, they’ll just meet in the middle and Casimero comes off second best.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Moloney vs Greer looks like a great fight. Does anyone know if it’s an eliminator of some kind? Sorry RKO mentioned it, there’s just so much to sift through there.

They're both ranked no. 1 and no.2 with the WBO. Most likely be a final eliminator, but it doesn't actually state that in the press releases.

[Delta Jay]

Moloney vs Greer looks like a great fight. Does anyone know if it’s an eliminator of some kind? Sorry RKO mentioned it, there’s just so much to sift through there.

They're both ranked no. 1 and no.2 with the WBO. Most likely be a final eliminator, but it doesn't actually state that in the press releases.

There we go, thanks for that.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Beterbiev-Fanlong, Inoue-Casimero Among Fights Postponed By Top Rank

Bob Arum announced Monday that all of his promotional company’s cards scheduled for the remainder of March and all of April have been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The announcement followed a flurry of postponements throughout the boxing world Monday. The shows Arum’s Top Rank Inc. had scheduled for March and April will be rescheduled “as soon as it’s safe and reasonable to do so,” according to a press release issued Monday.

“The health and safety of our fighters, staff and ESPN’s incredible production team is the most important thing as we plan our next steps,” Arum said. “We look forward to the day when we can bring our loyal fans world-class boxing once again, but exercising caution is the most prudent thing to do at this moment.”

The two most prominent fights postponed by Top Rank on Monday were to feature undefeated champions Artur Beterbiev and Naoya Inoue.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Casimero likely to fight Warren instead of Inoue

Johnriel Casimero may just dangle his WBO bantamweight belt against a new American foe, three-time Olympian Rau'shee Warren

MANILA, Philippines – Johnriel Casimero will fight in September or October, alright. But it won't be against Naoya Inoue as he had hoped.

According to social media reports circulating Saturday night, July 4, Casimero will be tangling with American Rau'shee Warren instead.

And Casimero's World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown will be on the line when he takes on Warren at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The 33-year-old Warren was the former World Boxing Association and International Boxing Organization champion in the same division and holds a 17-3 record with 4 knockouts.

While Warren may not be as fearsome as Inoue, he owns the distinction of being the only boxer to represent the United States in 3 Olympics – 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London. He was also the 2007 world amateur flyweight champion.

A southpaw, the 5-foot-6 Warren won by unanimous decision over Gilberto Mendoza on February 15. He lost to world champion Nordine Oubali by unanimous decision on January 19.

In the United States since February, Casimero was hoping for a unification showdown with Inoue who was still in Japan when COVID-19 forced a worldwide lockdown.

According to Top Rank Inc. which promotes Inoue, the Japanese Monster won't be able to fly to the US until September.

Knowing Inoue won't be Casimero's opponent, Nonoy Neri, who trained Casimero in Las Vegas, returned to the country on June 28.

Neri said Saturday there are many opponents being considered for Casimero and the final decision will come from MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions president Sean Gibbons. – Rappler.com

[margaret thatcher]

[Cent0089]

Okay, Inoue can have stay busy fight with Greer or Plania

[Ruthless-RKO]

Okay, Inoue can have stay busy fight with Greer or Plania

Yeh. This fight should still happen though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Inoue vs. Casimero Unification Very Possible For Early 2021, Says Arum

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes IBF/WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, believes there is a realistic possibility that his boxer could unify with WBO champion John Riel Casimero in February or March of next year.

“My Japanese partner [Akihiro Honda] said they would like to get Inoue back in action by February or March, the first quarter of next year, and that’s what we are going to do,” Arum told Josef Ramos of Business Mirror via an overseas phone call from Las Vegas. “And Casimero is a very good possibility [as Inoue’s next foe].”

Casimero and Inoue were supposed to unify their belts in April in Las Vegas. The event was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic - and both boxers went in different directions.

Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) returned to action in September and knocked out undefeated Duke Micah in three rounds as part of a Showtime PPV event at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

And Inoue was back this past Saturday night at the MGM Grand's Conference Center, when he battered and stopped Jason Moloney in seven rounds.

The veteran promoter was very impressed with the Inoue's performance. He saw shades of a young Manny Pacquiao. The bout with Moloney was Inoue's first fight under his new promotional deal with Top Rank.

Arum would like to stage Inoue-Casimero before a limited amount of paying fans.

“We’ll consider him for that fight if he is ready to do it,” said Arum.

“I thought Inoue looks sensationalized, you know, he reminded me of the young Manny Pacquiao the way he fought and he is just a tremendous fighter with great footwork, very fast, and he punches like I’ve never seen a bantamweight punch like it."

[margaret thatcher]

Awesome, fun fight between 2 bombers

[jujigatame]

Good fight but let's be honest, Casimero has near zero chance.

Estrada probably has a better chance of beating Inoue than anyone at 118.

[margaret thatcher]

Casimero is on a very nice run, just koing guys left and right, he will bring it

[bobcatbox]

Please make this happen!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Arum planning Naoya Inoue vs. John Riel Casimero or February or March 2021

Bob Arum of Top Rank is planning on setting up a unification fight between bantamweight champions Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue and John Riel Casimero for February or March 2021.

Still, Arum doubts that WBO bantamweight champion Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) will be able to take the fight with ‘Monster’ Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) in February or March because the exciting 31-year-old Filipino talent fought only once in 2020 with his third-round knockout of Duke Micah on September 26th.

Casimero might need another fight under his belt to get properly tuned up to take on the dangerous IBF/WBA 118-lb champion Inoue.

[margaret thatcher]

So he's planning the fight he doesn't think will happen?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Casimero-Inoue Clash Won't Happen, Filipino Goating Ancajas Instead

John Riel Casimero would love to get his chance to face Naoya Inoue at some point. Unfortunately, he will have to extend his patience. With the COVID-19 pandemic still in the air, that clash will not generate money and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum admits it is a fight he cannot afford.

A Casimero vs. Inoue fight was originally set in April. But with the ongoing pandemic, that blockbuster bout had to be canceled. Both fighters went on different routes from there and both are still making noise.

With the success the two boxers are having, fans have clamored to see a Casimero-Inoue fight. According to Arum, that will happen but not now. Without live gates and possibly having a bubble to hold it, the 88-year-old boxing promoter is not ready to spend and incur big losses to stage the showdown.

“So who is going to pay for it without the [live] gates? I cannot afford that fight—Casimero and Inoue—inside the bubble, I just can’t [pay for it],” Arum said in a report from the Business Mirror.

Arum’s take is not that different from other promoters who are hesitant to stage events while the pandemic is ongoing. Though he admitted that MGM is open to doing the Inoue fight, it just does not make sense in the financial aspect right now, Boxing Scene reported.

“They really need spectators who would watch [live] and pay for the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to get good revenues. I can’t keep doing these fights during the pandemic where I can’t get spectators although MGM wants to do the next Inoue fight. They want to do it to bring in tourists and wealthy gamblers from Japan, but can’t do that while the pandemic is [going] on,” Arum stated.

Hence all Casimero can do right now is be patient and play the waiting game. The fight is bound to happen only once the pandemic is under control and hopefully over. For now, he and Inoue have no choice but to stay the course.

As far as Casimero, it appears he has a new target in mind. Surprisingly, it is countryman IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas whom he taunted on social media.

“Tatang Bub haha _ you even dipped this kid of yours. There's no diploma but not yet what's shining. Because you are just giving the weak enemies. how is that going to be famous maybe just do this one just dip it in me to be famous haha tatang BuB What is this you are doing haha,” Casimero wrote as translated by Rappler.com.

It did not take long for Ancajas to offer a response to the taunts of Casimero. Watch his reply via the video below.

[margaret thatcher]

well that sux