John Riel Casimero fell ill yesterday and was withdrawn from his mandatory defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) crown against Paul Butler of England tomorrow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
It wasn’t confirmed if the WBO was going to strip him of the title but Joseph Agbeko of South Africa will take Casimero’s place.
But the LCD display during the official weigh-in labeled as “bantamweight bout” the clash between Butler and Agbeko and not a world title match.
The Casimero-Butler duel would have been the headlining bout that will take place at the Coca-Cola Arena. Probellum is staging the event.
Instead, the International Boxing Federation flyweight title showdown between champion Sunny Edwards and Filipino Jayson Mama will grab the spotlight.
Stephen Lunas, one of Casimero’s trainers, said the Leyte-born fighter was suffering from gastritis.
“Viral gastritis sucks,” wrote Lunas in his social media account. “First and foremost is the health of an athlete is more important than the sport itself,” Lunas said.
But there were reports circulating that Casimero was grossly overweight and was having a hard time getting down to the bantam limit of 118 lbs.
“Because he could no longer bear shedding off some more, he just decided not to proceed knowing that there was nothing that he can do,” a Daily Tribune source said.
Casimero arrived in Dubai last Tuesday from San Diego, California, where he had set up camp starting in the third week of October.
Casimero, 31, used to work with renowned strength coach Memo Heredia, Manny Pacquiao trainer Nonoy Neri and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons in revving up for a big fight.
In place of Neri was brother Jayson, who served as trainer and he likewise tapped former world champion Manny Melchor and Lunas, a California-based nurse.
Also seeing action in the Dubai slugfest is four-division champion Donnie Nietes, who meets Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic in a title eliminator.
