Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue (left) and Filipino bet John Riel Casimero. AFP FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—It seems John Riel Casimero’s antics have irked top pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue.
Inoue, a usually quiet fighter outside the ring, sent out a series of tweets in response to Casimero’s taunting following his split decision win over Guillermo Rigondeaux to defend his WBO bantamweight title.
“Why should I be a good kid? Is everyone’s image of Naoya Inoue a saintly prince? Why do we have to be silent when we are so fueled and provoked and hit the middle [finger] on live broadcasting?” posted Inoue in Japanese on Twitter.
“There are people who say various things, but this is a personal remark with Casimero… Please organize a match.”
Casimero (31-4), in his post-fight interview with broadcaster Jim Gray, taunted not only Inoue (21-0) but also Rigondeaux and Nonito Donaire after his win against the Cuban fighter.
“This is my plan, three people,” said Casimero to Gray as he held up three fingers.
“First, Rigondeaux. Finished. Second, Donaire,” said the brash Ormoc City native as he put his ring and index fingers down.
With Inoue the remaining man in his list, Casimero ultimately proceeded to flip the no.2 pound-for-pound fighter in Ring Magazine’s ratings.
FILE — John Riel Casimero (L) reacts as Guillermo Rigondeaux gets up after a fall during their WBO Bantamweight title 12 round bout at Dignity Health Sports Park on August 14, 2021 in Carson, California. Michael Owens/Getty Images/AFP
After the fight, Casimero took to Twitter once again gave another insensitive post.
“Lolo @BobArum your apo wants to [commit] suicide, would you let him do it and eat [expletive],” wrote Casimero in response to Inoue’s tweet, tagging Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.
While Casimero used some vulgar language to diss Inoue, the Japanese superstar pointed out the Filipino’s past issued with drug testing.
Donaire and wife Rachel, who serves as his manager, pulled out of the supposed fight against Casimero citing the WBO champion’s issues with voluntary drug testing.
This alleged reluctance to anti-doping protocols was what Inoue used as his verbal jabs.
“Once the match with Casimero is decided, I would like to beat it under the rule of boxing,” said Inoue, the IBF, WBA, and Ring Magazine champion, in a translated tweet. “Therefore we firmly ask for weight management ‘doping’ management so that the match will be established.”