JOHN Riel Casimero risks losing his World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown anew for violating British Boxing Board of Control medical rules just a few days before his mandatory title fight against top-ranked English challenger Paul Butler this Friday at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England.
Senior writer Jake Donovan of the website boxingscene.com reported yesterday that Casimero ran afoul with British ring authorities for using a sauna to lose weight in violation of its regulations and was barred from staking his crown.
Donovan was able to obtain a copy of BBBoC general secretary Robert Smith’s letter to both boxing camps about the matter.
“The British Boxing Board of Control has been made aware (with supporting evidence) that Mr. Casimero has made use of a sauna in close proximity to his World Boxing Organization Championship contest on 22nd April 2022 in Liverpool,” Smith wrote last Tuesday.
“As you are aware, this is against BBBoC’s medical guidelines and therefore we can’t permit him to compete in the proposed contest on Friday,” he added.
“The BBBoC has a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of saunas to lose weight before a fight,” the report said.
WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas has affirmed the BBBoC’s board decision in a letter addressed to Casimero’s manager, Egis Klimas, according to the report.
“Please be advised that on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, the WBO confirmed receipt of email correspondence from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) advising that supporting evidence was provided to the BBBoC regarding John Riel Casimero using a sauna in proximity to his scheduled WBO Bantamweight Mandatory Championship Contest against Paul Butler on Friday, April 22, 2022, at the Echo Arena, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom,” Batista-Salas wrote.
“Per the British Boxing Board of Control, Casimero’s actions are against the Board’s medical guidelines and therefore, he will not be permitted to compete accordingly,” the letter added.
Compounding Casimero’s woes, the embattled Pinoy champion was given a “show cause” order by the WBO to explain in the next 48 hours why the “WBO Bantamweight Championship Title shall not be declared ‘Vacant.’”
The story said that Casimero’s compatriot, Jonas Sultan, the No. 3 contender in the WBO bantamweight division, was on standby as the replacement to fight Butler for the WBO bantamweight belt in the event “Quadro Alas” is unable to clear his issues with the BBBoC within the 48-hour period set by the WBO.
This was the second time in four months that Casimero, who sports a record of 31 wins, 21 by knockout, against four losses, has found himself in hot water with the Puerto Rico-based ring body in his mandatory title match against Butler, who has won 33 times (15 KOs) against two losses.
He faced the same predicament when was forced to pull out of his fight against Butler last Dec. 11 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, due to gastritis, which was proven from his hospital records that was furnished to the WBO Championship Committee.
