BY NICK GIONGCO
Measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus is threatening to postpone two world title fights featuring world champions Jerwin Ancajas and John Riel Casimero.
Ancajas is set to make the ninth defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight crown on April 11 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas.
Exactly two weeks later on April 25, Casimero battles Japanese Naoya Inoue in a bantamweight unification duel at Mandalay Bay also in Sin City.
Sean Gibbons, who represents the two fighters, tells the Bulletin that there has been no official word yet from Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. if they’ll be moved to a later date.
“All set to go…for now,” said a visibly concerned Gibbons, noting that the two fighters have been training like hell.
Ancajas, who spent training camp in Dipolog City, is scheduled to meet Jonathan Rodriguez of Mexico and is keenly awaiting the release of his US visa.
Casimero, whose World Boxing Organization will be put on the line versus Inoue’s World Boxing Association and IBF titles, has been in Miami, Florida, for over a month now and is penciled to fly to Las Vegas any day now.
“You just can’t imagine the sacrifices they’ve gone through,” said Gibbons, admitting though that the world is living in extraordinary times given the scare the coronavirus has brought to the entire world.
“Major developments are taking place not daily but in about 12 hours or so,” added Gibbons.
Still, Ancajas and Casimero remain focused in their training.
But from the looks of it, their fights could end up being moved since most of the major boxing promotional outfits have been affected.
Top Rank’s show at Madison Square Garden in New York would still proceed but there’ll be no spectators present save for personnel needed to run the event.
Oscar De La Hoya’s two cards this month have been postponed as the State of California has ordered a freeze in the holding of mass gatherings.
So far, the shows on April 11 starring Ancajas and April 25 with Inoue and Casimero as main attractions are green and go.
But given the current situation, Ancajas and Casimero have no choice but to keep their fingers crossed.
