Naoya Inoue unified three bantamweight world titles on Tuesday night in Saitama, Japan with a devastating second-round stoppage of Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire Jr.
Call him the unified champion, but if Inoue wants to cement his stamp as the best in the division, he must face someone like John Riel Casimero, who lost the World Boxing Organization title due to an off-ring technicality.
In a social media post, Casimero expressed empathy to Hall-of-Fame bound Donaire and followed a short teasing statement. “Wala, talo mga idol, ako na next hehe.”
In another short post, Casimero said: “Bawi tayo. hehe.”
Casimero is considered a world champion in absentia, having been stripped of his WBO bantamweight title last month after he failed to defend it on two occasions against challenger Paul Butler, who was eventually declared the champion after beating the Filipino’s replacement, Jonas Sultan.
Will Casimero be given the opportunity to face the Japanese Monster even without a belt to show off?
Inoue’s promoter, Top Rank, may not entertain the idea of putting its Japanese jewel at great risk, well aware that Casimero possesses a dangerous, awkward style and deceiving power.
This early, there were reports that current World Boxing Organization champion Paul Butler’s team is already in talks with Inoue’s camp about a possible title bout to unify all the four major titles in the bantamweight class.
Butler, as per reports by Sidestep boxing, has reportedly told DAZN boxing that “Inoue’s team want the fight next before he looks on moving up, so that means this year.”
This could be the most prudent path for the undefeated Inoue, who is expected to easily dispatch Butler, to unify all the four world titles and become the undisputed champion.
When Casimero was still the WBO champion, he almost had Inoue agree to a fight, but later on chose to have a rematch with Donaire.
Inoue, who improved his immaculate record to 23 wins—20 by knockout—maybe younger at 29 years old. But Casimero being at 32 is still at his peak.
Choosing to fight the 39-year-old Donaire was the right decision by Inoue’s camp and the dangerous Casimero is not on their radar right now.
What are the options for Casimero to get regain his championship status?
First, he must put his team in proper order and sign up with a blue-chip promoter with tremendous clout, who could affirm his no. 1 contender slot to go for a title fight against Butler.
Or wait until after the projected Butler-Inoue showdown and challenge the winner for all the marbles.
