FILE – John Riel Casimero works the mitts with Cuban trainer Pedro Roque. Photo from Team Casimero
MANILA, Philippines — John Riel Casimero has moved on from Naoya Inoue now, at least until he’s done defending his WBO bantamweight title against Duke Micah of Ghana on Sept. 26 in Connecticut.
Casimero was originally set for a title unification bout against Inoue last April in Las Vegas before the coronavirus pandemic happened.
After months of waiting, the fight was never rescheduled and Casimero decided to go for Micah (24-0 19 KOs) instead rather than being idle.
Casimero, though, still remains open to fighting Inoue and possibly a showdown against another undefeated fighter and former bantamweight champion in Luis Nery, who has moved up to 122 pounds.
“[After] I’ve finished this guy (Micah), I’m ready for another opponent. Maybe Inoue or maybe Luis Nery,” Casimero 29-4, 20 KOs) said during a kickoff virtual press conference Tuesday.
Casimero and his camp have repeatedly called out Inoue and Top Rank for running away from the fight.
Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) is likely to defend his IBF and WBA (Super) bantamweight belts against Jason Moloney of Australia on Oct. 31, as per BoxingScene.com.
Nery (30-0, 24 KOs), meanwhile, is fighting on the same card as Casimero, taking on fellow Mexican Aaron Alameda for the vacant WBC super bantamweight crown.
“One by one, we’re going to finish them all,” Casimero said in Filipino.