BY NICK GIONGCO
It’s time to go to Plan B for world champions John Riel Casimero and Jerwin Ancajas, whose scheduled fights have been put on the freezer by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Ancajas was supposed to defend his International Boxing Federation super-flyweight crown last April 11 while Casimero was booked to face Japanese Naoya Inoue in a three-belt bantamweight clash this Saturday.
But the coronavirus pandemic forced Top Rank to scrap the two events, including others on deck for May and even June as the search continues to find a vaccine for COVID-19.
Arum said a few days ago that because of the travel restrictions imposed by the United States and the Philippines, he could not simply reschedule Ancajas since he is in the Philippines.
While Casimero is training in Las Vegas, Inoue is in Japan, where there is a national emergency over the resurgence of coronavirus cases, making it extremely difficult for Arum to map out a schedule.
An option is for Casimero to fight another opponent, something that suits Sean Gibbons fine.
Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, admits a backup plan is being discussed for Casimero and Ancajas, two of four reigning Filipino world titleholders who are aligned with Manny Pacquiao’s outfit.
“I will run by Bob about Casimero and Ancajas,” said Gibbons, sounding upbeat that Arum’s perspective could change should cases begin to drop in the coming weeks.
Ancajas is currently doing light training in Magallanes, Cavite, and will continue to do so until told to slow down.
“We will just keep on training even if it’s light training because you always have to be ready all the time,” said Ancajas’ chief trainer and manager Joven Jimenez from their isolated training camp that also houses a piggery and poultry and vegetable farm.
Last time Ancajas fought was in the second week of December in Pueblo, Mexico, while Casimero’s most recent was Nov. 30 in Birmingham, England.
