Flyweight contender McWilliams Arroyo was pulled out of a stay-buy fight against Robert Kanalas scheduled for Saturday night in his hometown of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, because he has landed a world title elimination bout against former junior flyweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero, of the Philippines, which will take place later this year in the United States, promoter Peter Rivera announced on Wednesday.
Arroyo (16-2, 14 KOs), the twin brother of newly crowned junior bantamweight titlist McJoe Arroyo, and Casimero (21-3, 13 KOs) will be fighting to become the mandatory challenger for titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand.
Arroyo and Casimero have both had title shots against him in Thailand and lost. Arroyo dropped a split decision last Septmber. Casimero lost a unanimous decision on June 27.
“We were negotiating several things for McWilliams, one of which was the possibility of facing [flyweight] world champion [Roman] ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez [on Oct. 17],” Rivera said. “Also this IBF elimination [fight], and we wanted McWilliams active in August, but the IBF ordered this bout and we are going to take this opportunity.”
Gonzalez opted instead to face former unified flyweight titlist Brian Viloria on the HBO PPV-televised undercard of the Gennady Golovkin-David Lemieux middleweight unification fight.
