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Three-division world champion handed a one-year ban

Written by Tom Eaton on 15th October 2024.

WBO Champion

Whilst the undisputed light-heavyweight showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol captivated the sport this weekend, Japan played host to a number of intriguing encounters, featuring a phenomenal eight world title fights. However, one of the weekend’s best performers has been dealt with a devastating blow, being handed a one-year ban from the sport.

John Riel Casimero was upgraded from interim champion to fill IBF light-flyweight champion back in 2012 and defended the belt on three occasions, including a win over upcoming Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez opponent Pedro Guevara.

Ahead of a fourth defence against Mauricio Fuentes, Casimero astonishing hit the scales at almost 114lbs, nearly six pounds over the light-flyweight limit, and was consequently stripped of his world title – but went on to score a first-round knockout win.

The Filipino then moved up to flyweight and after an unsuccessful title bid against Amnat Ruenroeng, Casimero scored a knockout win in the rematch to claim the IBF flyweight crown, despite the fact that both Casimero and Ruenroeng missed weight.

After famously halting Charlie Edwards in his lone defence of the title, ‘Quadro Alas’ once again moved up in weight and three years later he would stop Zolani Tete within three rounds to add the WBO bantamweight title to his collection.

At 118lbs, Casimero registered wins over Duke Micah and the legendary Guillermo Rigondeaux to seeming tee-up an undisputed showdown with arguable pound-for-pound number one Naoya Inoue – with Liverpool’s Paul Butler being the only stumbling block.

However, Casimero was once again stripped of his world title after difficulties making the weight for his fight with Butler, who then replaced him as the WBO champion and went on to lose to Inoue in late 2022.

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Since then, the 35-year-old has moved up to super-bantamweight and remains in pursuit of a battle with Inoue, hoping to land the fight with the Japanese sensation before his inevitable move up to featherweight.

This weekend, Casimero was tasked with Mexico’s former world title challenger Saul Sanchez, but confusion was rife at the weigh-in one again, as Casimero seemingly attempted to tamper with the scales, before official confirmation that he had missed weight once again.

The fight went ahead regardless and Casimero dismissed Sanchez with ease, a surprisingly comfortable first-round knockout shocking those in attendance.

Yet, the Japanese Boxing Commission have now decided to hand Casimero with a one-year ban, seemingly ending all hopes of a meeting with Inoue, as per Anthony Joaquin Arieta.

Inoue is expected to proceed with a defence of his undisputed super-bantamweight titles against Australia’s Sam Goodman on December 24th – a featherweight title challenge on the horizon if he comes through Goodman unscathed.

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