BY NICK GIONGCO
NEWLY-CROWNED World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero wants to become the undisputed world champion.
“I want to win all the four major belts,” said Casimero during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Amelie Hitel in Ermita, Manila.
By four, Casimero is raring to add Naoya “Monster” Inoue’s World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation 118-lb crowns as well as French Nordine Oubaali’s World Boxing Council jewels.
Casimero is fresh from mauling Zolani Tete of South Africa to nail the WBO strap last Nov. 30 in Birmingham, England.
Apparently, Casimero is not happy with just one strapped around his waist and wants the three others so he could wrap himself around them.
Sean Gibbons, the right-hand man of Manny Pacquiao and MP Promotions president, told scribes during their last Q&A for the year that initial talks have commenced and advanced negotiations are going to get underway in Tokyo before Christmas.
” I will be meeting with Top Rank head Bob Arum and (Teiken Promotions chief) Akihiko Honda in Japan next week and we’ll discuss it (Inoue vs Casimero),” said Gibbons.
Since the undefeated Inoue is now aligned with Top Rank, Gibbons reveals that if ever the mouthwatering matchup takes place, it will be staged in the US where Arum wants Inoue to be showcased in style.
Casimero believes he doesn’t even need a tuneup for Inoue, adding he is confident in his skills and power that if he can land one solid shot, Inoue will suddenly find himself in deep waters.
Gibbons feels Casimero has what it takes to take out Inoue and Nonito Donaire, who failed to do just that against Inoue last Nov. 7 in Saitama, was no longer in his prime when he battled the Japanese star at the Saitama Super Arena.
“Casimero reminds of what Donaire was seven years ago,” said Gibbons, who also represents the other three world champions Jerwin Ancajas, Pedro Taduran, and of course, Pacquiao.
“A Casimero-Inoue fight is a match made in heaven…their styles complement each other,” he said.
