Philippines, 11 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Target date for Casimero bout


PhilBoxing.com




There’s a working date for the triple bantamweight championship unification fight between WBO titlist JohnRiel Casimero and super WBA/IBF ruler Naoya (The Monster) Inoue with MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons setting July 25 as the target at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Casimero’s trainer Nonoy Neri cancelled a flight back to Manila last Saturday and has decided to stay in Las Vegas until the fight pushes through. Casimero flew into the US last February, initially training in Miami then relocating to Las Vegas a month later. Neri joined Casimero in Las Vegas last March.

“We’ll get a clearer picture of the situation by next week,” said Gibbons. “But right now, we’re going with the target date of the last Saturday of July which is July 25. Without a fight date, it’s hard to sustain your intensity in training. It’s hard to focus. But now with a fight date, everyone’s excited and it’s back to serious Monster-hunting business.”

The other day, Gibbons visited the house where Casimero, his brother Jason, Neri and cutman Ting Ariosa are staying in Las Vegas. A portion of the house has been transformed into a gym. “Casimero was on fire,” said Gibbons who watched the fighter work out. “He’s out to bring down the Monster.” Gibbons sent over a video showing Casimero pounding the heavy bag with both hands.

“I was told by Mr. (Akihiko) Honda that Inoue is coming and we’ll be fighting in Las Vegas,” said Gibbons. An option to stage the fight in Japan isn’t on the table. When the target date was set, Neri decided it would be better to stay in Las Vegas. “Nonoy needed to take care of things with his family back home but that’s now sorted out,” said Gibbons. “We’ve arranged to send money to his family so that’s no longer a worry. If Nonoy left, he would’ve had to be quarantined for 14 days in Manila then he would’ve tried to book a flight back to Las Vegas where he would’ve had to undergo another quarantine. So now that there’s a target date, we’ve got a clear path.”

Gibbons said Casimero is preparing for the Monster, nobody else. There were earlier reports that if Inoue couldn’t go to the US, Casimero would fight Joshua Greer in a championship defense or another contender in a non-title tune-up. Gibbons said after talking with Honda, he was assured that the Inoue fight is a go and no other bout is under consideration.

Gibbons said if Inoue arrives by June 1, he’ll have more than enough time to acclimatize. The tentative plan is for the Japanese to fly in mid-May. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who signed up Inoue to a multi-year promotional contract last November, is now working on health protocols to submit to the Nevada and California athletic commissions for approval to stage boxing events by June. The protocols may include banning of spectators and spraying the fighters with a disinfectant in the ring before the first bell.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 MARCH 2026: Opetaia Outpoints Glanton to Win Inaugural Zuffa Belt; Ricardo Salas, Vlad Panin Register Wins
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Brijhana Epperson and Christian Paez Highlight Day Two of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Beltran, Prado rule Samal Half Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Meinke-Vargas IBF Featherweight Female World Championship Set for 12 rounds?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Ruiz and Veloz Earn Dominant Wins on Opening Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Top Rank Signs Undefeated Lightweight Prospect Sammy Contreras
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • 153 swimmers safely complete Davao-Samal-Davao Cross Channel
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Leading World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki returns from 15-month layoff with another overpowering KO
    , Mon, 09 Mar 2026
  • Roca, Bernardino share top honors in Tea Block rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Fastpitch Softball on March 20-22 in Calinan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Opetaia vs Glanton: Dana White Crowns First Boxing Champion. Is Fight Worthy?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • In Thrilling Showdown, Pagara Falls Short Against Polkinghorn by Points.
    , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
    By Eric Armit, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 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.