THE World Boxing Organization has given reigning WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero an ultimatum in ordering him to face top-ranked British challenger Paul Butler on April 23 in Liverpool England, the ring website bloodyelbow.com reported yesterday (Saturday in the US).
The Puerto Rico-based boxing body gave the order after Casimero withdrew just days after his scheduled mandatory title clash with Butler in Dubai due to viral gastritis in a promotion organized by Probellum, which won the purse bid for the fight rights.
Reportedly overweight, the Filipino “Quadro Alas” was able to furnish the WBO with medical records to validate his sickness so was able to retain his world crown.
‘In the event Casimero does not attend the official weigh-in whatsoever, refuses to fight, is injured or suffers injury, or is unavailable to participate regardless (of) the circumstances, the Bantamweight Championship title will be declared Vacant ‘Ipso Facto’,” bloodyelbow writer Anton Tabuena reported.
Tabuena was quoting the WBO letter addressed to Harrison Whitman, Probellum’s chief strategy and legal officer, which was released last Saturday.
“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee grants sanction approval for the above-referenced Bantamweight Mandatory bout between John Riel Casimero and Paul Butler, scheduled for Saturday, April 23, 2022, in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom,” the WBO wrote.
Casimero had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over the outcome of the purse bid that MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons, who used to handle the Filipino boxer, did not contest, resulting in a falling out between the two parties.
Probellum secured the fight rights of the Casimero-Butler clash with a minimum purse bid of $100,000 (around P5.1 million), which meant a lower take home pay for the reigning titlist compared to his last two title defenses.
With a record of 31 wins, 21 by knockout, against four losses, Casimero had won the WBO bantamweight strap with a third-round technical knockout of South African Zolani Tete on Nov. 11, 2019, at Ulita Arena in Birmingham, England.
He made an initial defense of the championship in stopping another South African, Duke Micah, in three rounds on Sept. 26, 2019, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Casimero, 32 then defeated wily Cuban veteran Guillermo Rigondeaux by split decision at Dignity Health Sports Spark in Carson City, California last Aug. 14.
A former International Boxing Federation bantamweight titlist, Butler,33, has a record of 33 wins (15 KOs) and two losses, having won his seven last fights to earn his No. 1 rating in the WBO bantamweight division and the crack at Casimero’s crown.
There is a strong possibility that the two boxers might wind up spicing the undercard of the title match between popular defending World Boxing Council heavyweight champ Tyson Fury of England and compatriot Dillian Whyte on April 23 in the United Kingdom.
Veteran British promoter Frank Warren won the WBC purse bid for the mandatory title encounter with an eye-popping $41 million tag, outbidding Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, who could only come up with $31 million.
