By REYNALD MAGALLON
It seems like John Riel Casimero’s bid of attracting bigger fights, particularly one against undisputed champion Naoya Inoue is fast becoming a hopeless case.
That, after the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) cracked the whip on the former three-time world champion with a one-year suspension in Japan after failing to make the weight in his non-title bout against American Saul Sanchez over the weekend.
Casimero came in overweight a day before the fight, tipping the scales on his first try at 124.12lbs or 56.33 kilograms – a kilo over the 122 lbs or 55.3kg weight limit. He was given another chance but could only bring down his weight to 55.9kg or 123.23 lbs, still over the cut.
It is now the latest controversy Casimero got embroiled into after seemingly not learning his lessons when he was onced forced to relinquish his World Boxing Organization belt for failure to defend his title twice – all due to his perennial weight issues.
Despite being overweight though, the bout pushed through with Casimero wearing heavier gloves and needing to still make the weight in the morning of the fight.
The Filipino boxer did turn heads during the fight, scoring a sensational first-round technical knockout victory over Sanchez with Casimero even expressing his desire of starring in more high profile fights after the contest.
As impressive as his performance was, the apparent professionalism (or the lack thereof) is what clearly pushed the big fights away from Casimero especially now that he has been suspended by JBC which is long known to be strict with fighters failing to make weight.
For one, Casimero is being handled by Japanese promoter Treasure Boxing Promotions.
