International matchmaker Sean Gibbons confirmed that defending World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero is now headed to a different direction, away from a fight against Japanese unified champion Naoya Inoue.
Gibbons, also the president of the MP Promotions, said the 31-year-old Casimero will be fighting under the Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions card on September 26 in a pay-per-view show at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
“The opponent is yet to be announced,” said Gibbons.
Despite the frustration of failing to fight Inoue, Casimero kept his focus on training together with strength and conditioning coach Memo Heredia in Las Vegas as he waits for his new opponent. Casimero has been in Las Vegas since February this year.
Casimero, a native Ormoc City, was originally set to face the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association bantamweight world champion Inoue last April 25 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the fight was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Top Rank chief Bob Arum, Inoue can't go to the United States due to problems with his visa.