The controversy surrounding John Riel Casimero has deepened, with the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) ordering the Filipino boxer and his brother Jason Casimero to appear for a formal hearing within five days.
The move follows GAB’s earlier announcement that it was reviewing allegations of fight-fixing in Casimero’s October 25 featherweight bout against Kyonosuke Kameda in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan — a story first broken by Nick Giongco and passed to World Boxing News.
Hearing Set After Public Outcry According to a Philippines-based insider who translated the official GAB notice for WBN, both Casimeros must appear in person to explain remarks made by Jason Casimero that seemed to imply the fight outcome was pre-arranged.
“They (the Casimeros) have now received notice that they have to come in,” the insider told World Boxing News.
“They have five days to justify the statements by Jason, and why he said they threw the fight. Whether it’s mixed-up words because he’s not a native Filipino speaker, I think they’ll need to prove with solid evidence that there was no fight-fixing — and I think it will be hard to do so.”
The GAB’s letter, seen by WBN, signals that the governing body is treating the allegations as a serious breach of professional conduct, with potential license implications if wrongdoing is proven.
Background: Deleted Post Sparked Investigation The ongoing probe stems from a since-deleted social media post made by Jason Casimero after the fight. In Tagalog, the trainer appeared to suggest that losing the bout was part of a “bigger plan” to rebuild his brother’s career. This comment immediately drew backlash across boxing circles.
Casimero, 34-5-1 (23 KOs), had returned to the ring following a 12-month suspension by the Japan Boxing Commission for failing to make weight in 2023. Although he appeared aggressive throughout the Kameda fight, questions over his intent persisted after the post went viral.
At the time, GAB chairman Francisco Rivera confirmed to the Daily Tribune that his office had received multiple emails requesting a formal investigation — prompting the body to gather fight footage and review Jason’s statements.
Ryan Hafey Sean Gibbons Calls It a ‘Tragic Decline’ Casimero’s former promoter, Sean Gibbons, previously told WBN that the situation was “another in a long line of bad decisions” following the fighter’s departure from Manny Pacquiao Promotions.
“When we promoted and managed him, John Riel won three world titles and defended them in ten countries,” Gibbons said.
“He was one month away from fighting (Naoya) Inoue before Covid hit. Since then, bad advice and poor management have run his career into the ground. It’s really sad.”
What Comes Next The GAB hearing will give the Casimero camp a narrow window to clarify Jason’s remarks and present evidence countering the allegations. Failure to satisfy regulators could lead to disciplinary action or license suspension under GAB rules.
For now, the board has not made any formal accusations, but the outcome of this hearing will determine whether Casimero’s once-promising comeback faces another devastating setback.
Casimero’s case sits at the intersection of boxing integrity and athlete accountability. While fans hope the hearing clears the Filipino star’s name, GAB’s insistence on transparency underscores a growing regional crackdown on misconduct in combat sports.
The following five days will decide not only Casimero’s reputation, but potentially the future of his boxing career.
