By JONAS TERRADO
John Riel Casimero is ready to showcase his skills in front of a US pay-per-view audience when he defends his WBO bantamweight title against Duke Micah on Sunday (Manila time).
Casimero holds the advantage against the undefeated Micah going into their title fight at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The bout is an appetizer for the Jermall Charlo-Sergiy Derevyanchenko WBC middleweight title clash and will be shown on American soil through Showtime PPV.
Micah, who hails from Ghana, has won all of his 24 professional fights and was selected as Casimero’s opponent after the planned showdown with Japanese Naoya Inoue didn’t materialize.
MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons told Max Boxing that Casimero is raring to see what he’s made of.
“He is in great shape, he is motivated and he is going to be ready to defend his title,” Gibbons said. “Casimero has a lot of power, he can turn out a guy’s lights with the right shot. But, people have to remember, this guy is a very experienced and talented boxer, he knows how to move, set guys up, create shots from different angles; he is a very talented boxer, he has a very well-rounded game.
“He is going to show that in Connecticut,” Gibbons added. “Micah is undefeated, and clearly he can punch, but he’s stepping into the big leagues on the 26th against one of boxing’s best – Casimero is going to show fans again why he is a multiple world champion and why he is one of the best.”
Casimero is using the fight as a springboard to a potential fight with Inoue or Luis Nery, who will face Aaron Alameda for the WBC super bantamweight belt on the said card.
