Once again, Filipino boxing champion John Riel Casimero said he is ready to face unbeaten Japanese Naoya Inoue as he boldly stated he will fight anytime, anywhere and even on his opponent’s own terms.
Fresh from defending his WBO bantamweight title with a knockout victory against Ghana’s Duke Micah last September 26 in Las Vegas, USA, the 31-year-old Casimero said he is willing to fight Inoue in his home turf.
“Puwede (Japan)… kahit nga sa bahay nila, ang sabi ko nga sa kanya lalabanan ko siya,” said Casimero on The Chasedown on One PH over CignalTV when he guested last Saturday.
“Kahit papa pa niya referee lalabanan ko siya.”
Though the good-humored boxer all said it in jest, Casimero reiterated that he is frustrated that Inoue turned his back on him as the two were originally set to fight last month.
Instead of fighting a fellow unbeaten boxer in Casimero, Inoue – with the guidance of Top Rank boss Bob Arum – will instead clash against Australia’s Jason Moloney on October 31 in the US.
It is going to be Inoue’s debut fight in the US and for Top Rank, where he signed following his 2019 Fight of the Year triumph against Filipino legend Nonito Donaire last November 7.
That win by Inoue improved his ring record to 19 wins.
“Noong pumunta ako dito sa Las Vegas (January 2020) e para sa laban namin (against Inoue). Nagagalit ako kasi parang natetenga ako dito. Parang kulungan ang nasa isip ko. Ensayo, balik sa bahay, tulog, tapos ganun uli.”
“Parang nasisira na utak ko kakahintay sa kanya. Noong iba kinalaban niya na-depress ako sa kanya. Gusto ko na sapakin. Kaya nga yung Duke Micah yun napag-tripan ko napatulog ng maaga.”
“Hanggang ngayon nakaka-inis isipin na iba kinalaban niya (Inoue),” added Casimero, a three-division champion of the MP Promotions.
That win against Micah improved Casimero’s own record to 30 victories, with 21 by way of knockouts against four defeats.
Casimero still thinks that he would be fighting Inoue next year – either February or July and it is going to be in the US.