John Riel Casimero. PROBELLUM PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — John Riel Casimero believes that he is still the best fighter in the bantamweight division.
The former WBO bantamweight champion called out Japanese Naoya Inoue in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday.
“Oo magiging undisputed ka. Pero hindi ikaw ang magiging pinakamalakas sa division na yan,” said Casimero. “Alam niyo ba kung sinong pinakamalakas sa bantamweight division? Walang iba kung di si Quadro Alas, ang Angas ng Pinas.”
[Yes, you may be the undisputed (champion), but you are not the strongest in this division. Do you know who is the strongest in the bantamweight division? No one else but Quadro Alas.]
Two days ago, Casimero vowed to avenge Nonito Donaire’s loss to Inoue.
Inoue stayed unbeaten, taking down Donaire via technical knockout in the second round last Tuesday in Saitama, Japan to unify the WBC, WBA and IBF bantamweight titles.
Casimero and Inoue were supposed to face each other in April 2020, but it was canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casimero warned the Japanese boxer to mark his words.
“Mark my words, Inoue. See you soon,” he said.
Casimero was previously stripped of a title by the WBO after violating the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) for using a sauna to cut down weight ahead of his mandatory defense against Butler in Liverpool, England.