World Boxing Organization champion John Riel Casimero on Monday denied that he was struggling in weight before he was prevented from defending his title against British contender Paul Butler.
The Filipino believed that the scenario to remove him from the championship fight may have already been planned beforehand.
“Kuha na namin ang timbang sa San Diego pa lang, chill na chill na nga ako dito. ‘Yun talaga katotohanan guys. Wala, planado na pala lahat,” Casimero said on his youtube video without elaborating. “Dapat sana hindi na kami pinapunta dito. Sayang lang pagod namin.”
For now, Casimero is taking it cool even as the WBO is expected to come out with a decision on whether to strip him of his bantamweight crown or retain his status as a fully recognized champion in the division.
“Pero hayaan niyo, hindi pa ngayon magsasabi ng statement namin. Bahala na attorney namin, sa ngayon wala tayo magagawa. Chill lang muna tayo,” he added.
Casimero was prevented by the British Boxing Board of Control (BboC) from defending his title against Butler, only three days before their scheduled bout on April 23 at the M&S Arena in Liverpool.
The BBoC formally informed the WBO of its decision not to allow Casimero to go on with the bout for violating its medical guidelines.
The BboC further stated that they found out Casimero used a sauna suit in a drastic effort to meet the required weight, a measure that it prohibits.
Immediately, the WBO approved the sanction for the Butler bout against another Filipino in Jonas Sultan for the interim title and asked Casimero’s camp to explain within 48 hours why he should not be stripped of his title for failing to defend his title within the organization’s prescribed period.
Butler eventually claimed the WBO interim bantamweight crown with a unanimous decision win over Sultan, who, incidentally, was also in the U.K., while the development in the botched Casimero-Butler matchup was happening.
As of this writing, the WBO has yet to come out with a verdict on Casimero who vowed to plead his case.
“Walang gusto na mangyari ganito. Kami dito pumunta para sa laban na ‘to. Pero wala pala plano eh. Hindi pala kami kalaban. ‘Yung hirap (na) dinanas namin sobra, walang kapalit. Abangan niyo na lang ang susunod na kabanata,” he said.
On fight night, Casimero was in the vicinity of the Arena, taking videos and posting them on his youtube channel.
“Mga kababayan, (eto) sa baba lang venue. Hindi na kami nanoood,” said Casimero, who claimed Butler would have been an easy job for him.
He also asked his viewers to message him to get free VIP passes that were given to him.
“Salamat sa mga hindi nang iwan sakin,” he said.