FORMER three-division champion Johnriel Casimero is no stranger to controversy and his journey has been marked by twists and surprises, no thanks to his penchant for bold statements on social media.
He is at it again.
“Pagkatapos mo itumba si Nery next year, tayo na. Alam ko at alam ng lahat na ako lang ang makakatalo sayo,” Casimero boldly declared on his Facebook page, Quadro Alas It’s My Boy.
Inoue is now regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet after becoming a two-division undisputed champion with a 10th-round knockout over Filipino Marlon Tapales on Tuesday.
“Malakas naman talaga (Inoue), pero marami na din akong pinatumbang malakas,” Casimero said in acknowledging Inoue’s formidable power.
But he confidently points to his track record of knocking out powerful opponents. With 33 wins, 22 by knockout, 4 losses, and a draw, Casimero is no stranger to the taste of victory, even against challenging adversaries.
The tantalizing prospect of a bout with Inoue was within reach in the bantamweight division, but fate intervened in the form of a quirky boxing rule in England.
Scheduled to face his mandatory challenger Paul Butler in April 2022 in Liverpool, Casimero faced an unexpected hurdle when the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) barred him from competing due to a violation of medical guidelines.
The use of a sauna for weight-cutting close to the fight led to Casimero’s exclusion.
Casimero’s late replacement, Jonas Sultan, couldn’t seize the opportunity, losing to Butler by unanimous decision.
Consequently, the WBO stripped Casimero of his title, with Butler stepping into his shoes. Butler, in turn, faced Inoue and succumbed to defeat, paving the way for Inoue to become the undisputed champion in the division.
Undeterred, Casimero is not only fixated on the super bantamweight ladder but is also slowly making his ascent.
Despite a less-than-impressive outing in October against former IBF super bantamweight champion Yukinori Oguni, ending in a Controversial Technical Draw due to an accidental headbutt, Casimero remains hopeful in finally getting his hands on “The Monster.”