Ito, the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) super featherweight champion, laid out his plans for Casimero and it looks pretty bright—with the ultimate goal of a super fight with Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue.
“In Japan, Casimero is well-known. We got him because of that,” said Ito, who personally went to Cebu City to ink Casimero to a promotional deal.
“We’re planning for him to fight at bantamweight and super bantamweight. We have lots of plans for him. We want him to fight, not only here in the Philippines but also in Japan and other countries like Korea and America. What’s important is for him to win a world title. We can fight for any of the organizations, whichever comes first. Our aim is for a world title. Once we win a belt the next step will be easier.”
Ito already has a few names for possible Casimero opponents before chasing the ultimate goal of an Inoue fight. Some of the names that they are looking at are fellow Filipino star Nonito Donaire Jr., highly rated bantamweight Jason Moloney, and world-ranked super bantamweights Luis Nery and Ra’eese Aleem.
“Hopefully, I will get a Naoya Inoue fight someday,” said Casimero.
“It really depends on where the opportunity is. If there’s a chance for a world championship fight at either bantamweight or at super bantamweight, then I will take it.”
Casimero already had a heated rivalry with Donaire Jr. in the past and both stars were already set to fight but it fizzled after Donaire Jr.’s wife Rachel pulled out of the verbal agreement after being insulted online by Casimero’s camp. Donaire Jr. is coming off a second round stoppage loss to Inoue but is still one of the top bantamweights in the world. Donaire is ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and No. 5 by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Like Donaire Jr., Moloney is also a top-ranked bantamweight and was ordered to fight Donaire Jr. for the vacant WBC bantamweight belt, vacated by Inoue. But for some reason the fight won’t happen. He’s still in search of an opponent for the vacant title. Moloney is currently ranked No. 1 by the WBC and the WBO, and No. 3 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
Nery and Aleem, on the other hand, are super bantamweights that are highly ranked. Nery is a two-division world champion that’s currently ranked No. 1 by the WBC, and No. 3 by both the WBO and the IBF. Aleem is ranked No. 2 by the WBO, No. 3 by the IBF and No. 4 by the WBC.
The 33-year-old Casimero is rated No. 8 by the WBC super bantamweight division.
Casimero was stripped of his WBO bantamweight strap last year coming up to his title defense with Paul Butler after using a sauna to trim down in weight, which was not allowed by the British Boxing Board of Control.
“The issue with me the last time was that I already gained weight, and I admit that we really went to the sauna. We always go to the sauna before fights, but we didn’t know that it wasn’t allowed. All the boxers go to saunas. I didn’t have a hard time gaining weight. Last time, I made the weight easy,” said Casimero. “I was the champion and I lost the belt because of that. It’s a waste.”
If Casimero becomes a world champion again, whichever route he takes, Ito assured that they’ll do their best to get him to fight Inoue, which he believes should be a great fight.
“Right now, I’m thankful because they are here to guide me to fight the big fights and a world championship. The contracts are there. I have huge trust in them and in my manager Jose Dela Cruz,” said Casimero.
“That would be a great fight. Both boxers have power, speed and technique. I’ll go with Casimero,” said Ito. “We’ll do our best to give him a fight with Inoue, but he has to become a world champion again first so that it will be easier for us to get him that fight.”