Philippines, 22 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


No secret in Casimero's fight plan


PhilBoxing.com



Casimero (R) and Gibbons.

There’s no secret in what Johnriel Casimero has to do to wrest the WBO bantamweight crown from defending champion Zolani Tete of South Africa in their scheduled 12-round title bout at the Arena Birmingham, West Midlands, England on Nov. 30. The only way Casimero will beat Tete is to attack relentlessly and turn the fight into a phone-booth brawl.

With Tete’s five-inch height and eight-inch reach advantage, he’s expected to avoid engaging Casimero and box from long distance. How Casimero will cut the ring off and pressure Tete into fighting at close range is the mystery that the Ormoc slugger plans to unlock.

MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said he’s convinced Casimero will dethrone Tete either by a late stoppage or a decision. Gibbons is so confident that he’s envisioning Casimero to face newly-crowned super WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue after disposing of Tete.

“Casimero’s now the interim champion and will be the full WBO beltholder on Nov. 30 then he wants Inoue,” said Gibbons. “I think Casimero has the style to give Inoue trouble. I don’t know about knocking out Inoue but he can hang with him 1000 percent and will do very well.”

Inoue went the distance to beat Nonito Donaire, Jr. in Saitama two weeks ago but wound up with a fractured right orbital bone, a fractured right cheekbone, a right eyelid cut that took five stitches to close and a broken nose. He’s not sure when he can fight again. Inoue, who also holds the IBF title, is scheduled to be examined by doctors in a few weeks then it will be determined if he’s ready to go back to the gym. Inoue’s been signed to do three fights next year under the Top Rank banner, two in the US and one in Japan. One of those fights could be against Casimero, assuming he repulses Tete. Another could be a rematch with Donaire.

One man has beaten both Tete and Casimero----South African Moruti Mthalane who was ruled unfit to continue because of a delicate cut in his left eyelid and lost to Donaire on a sixth round technical knockout in Las Vegas in 2008.. Mthalane halted Casimero in the fifth round in Johannesburg in 2011. The year before, Mthalane stopped Tete, also in the fifth, in Brakpan. “Casimero has the tools to beat Tete,” said Donaire. “But Tete’s a smart guy. He’ll make use of his advantage in height and reach. He won’t engage Casimero. He’ll run, dance and strike from a distance. Casimero’s chances will depend on if he’s able to catch Tete.”

Donaire said Casimero has to be “super aggressive” to topple Tete. “That’s how Mthalane beat Tete,” said Donaire. “He went after Tete from the start and never eased the pressure. If Casimero can do that, he’ll win.” But fighting Inoue is a different scenario. “I think Inoue’s too fast,” said Donaire. “It’ll be difficult for Casimero to catch him.”

Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions is staging the Tete-Casimero fight. WBO president Paco Valcarcel has assigned Edgardo Lopez of Puerto Rico as supervisor and Steve Gray of Lancashire as referee. The judges will be Lisa Giampa of Las Vegas, Marcus McDonnell of London and Lynne Carter of Philadelphia.

Casimero, 29, will make his second appearance in the UK. In 2016, he blasted Charlie Edwards into submission in the 10th round at the O2 Arena in London. Tete, 31, is unbeaten in five fights in England, his second home. His only losses came in Mexico, Argentina and in Brakpan.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jacamos fights for vacant WBC Youth World junior fly in South Africa on May 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 22 May 2026
  • Lastimosa to fight for vacant PBF Youth light fly crown
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 22 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Adds Seven Wins on Day Four at 2026 Copa America
    , Fri, 22 May 2026
  • Bohat fights for PBF Silver bantamweight crown
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • AGM Bernardino to hold chess simul in San Manuel, Tarlac
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • JONES VS. GUALTIERI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: From Madrid to Johannesburg – The Legacy of the WBC in South Africa
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TYSON VS. MAYWEATHER EXHIBITION IS ON— TYSON BROKEN HAND PUSHES EVENT FROM SPRING TO FALL OF 2026
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Three Lions Promotions Building pro boxing back to Glory days in Metro Vancouver
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Jenn Perella shines, Bobby Laing stops Russ Kimber in 1st round
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Gustavo Trujillo Looks to Continue his Rise in the Heavyweight Division
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante rules 2026 Buffalo’s Pro Classic 1 Ball One Pocket Division
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures Eight More Victories on Day Three of 2026 Copa America
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 MAY 2026: Davis Outpoints Albright; Kuse Dethrones Jerusalem; Donovan Defeats Chukhadzhian; Hrgovic Stops Allen
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Rally from 22 Points Down to Beat Cavs 115-104 in OT
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Filipino grabs second place in the National Canada Chess Challenge 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 0 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • It’s in the blood
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.