Filipino boxer John Riel Casimero in United Kingdom. JOHN RIEL CASIMERA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines—John Riel Casimero’s World Boxing Organization title defense against Paul Butler hit a snag anew after the embattled Filipino champion violated a strict medical policy by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) just days before the bout in Liverpool.
In a letter released by the WBO on Wednesday (Manila time), the WBO Championship Committee disallowed Casimero from participating in the fight against Butler due to the incident.
With Casimero out of the picture, the committee ordered another Filipino in Jonas Sultan to step in being the “first available world bantamweight contender.”
An interim WBO bantamweight title bout, instead, will take place between Sultan and Butler on April 23 at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
Casimero reportedly used a sauna ahead of his title fight against Butler to make weight—which is not allowed as per the BBBofC’s medical policy.
The 32-year-old Casimero and his camp have been required to present a “show cause order” within the next 48 hours or be stripped of his belt.
Casimero has been on a downward spiral for the last several months.
Casimero was originally scheduled to fight Butler, the mandatory challenger, last December but the bout was scuppered after the three-division champion failed to show up during the official weigh-in due to gastritis.
He is also facing a case of Acts of Lasciviousness and RA 7610 filed by a minor two months ago.