By NICK GIONGCO
World boxing champion John Riel Casimero is torn between flying back to the Philippines or staying put in a rented house in Las Vegas.
Casimero was supposed to face Japanese Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue in a three-titlebelt world bantamweight clash on April 25 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
But the coronavirus pandemic scuttled that date alongside all the other global sporting events as COVID-19 continues to leave behind a trail of death in human lives and havoc on the world’s economies.
With travel suspended indefinitely, Casimero has been left with no choice but to stay behind closed doors.
“Hindi na ako lumalabas. ibang tao na ang bumibili ng grocery,” Casimero told the Bulletin from Sin City.
He thought about returning to Manila so Casimero can travel to his family in Ormoc, Leyte, where he said there is no shortage of food.
“Walang problema doon sa bahay ko kasi sa bundok yun at tahimik…wala masyado gaanong tao,” said the 31-year-old three-division world champion.
But, because of travel restrictions in the Philippines, Casimero can’t afford to book himself a flight.
Besides, Casimero is concerned about contracting the disease during flight.
“Masyado na kasing delikado dito sa US. Maraming tao na sng meron virus at baka makatabi ko pa ang isang pasahero na may virus sa eroplano,” he said.
Casimero, the World Boxing Organization champion, arrived in the US in the second week of February, setting up camp in Miami for six weeks before traveling to Sin City.
Just a couple of days after arriving in Las Vegas, the fight with Inoue, holder of the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles, got postponed.
Casimero continues to train indoors with his brother Jayson lending a hand. Also presiding over training are Nonoy Neri, a longtime member of Manny Pacquiao’s team, and Ting Ariosa, formerly with the national boxing team.
With almost all business non-operational, Casimero struggles with the thought of knowing when his clash with Inoue would happen.
“Gusto ko talaga umuwi muna dahil sa hindi pa masabi kung kailan talaga ang laban,” Casimero said.
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