NAGPASIYA si IBF flyweight titlist John Riel Casimero na bitiwan ang titulo at umangat ng timbang para magkaroon ng pagkakataong hamunin si No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer at WBC super flyweight beltholder Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez ng Nicaragua.

Huling lumaban si Casimero nang talunin sa 10th round technical knockout ang walang talong Briton na si Charlie Edwards nitong Setyembre 10 sa O2 Arena sa London, Great Britain. Tangan niya ang 23-3-0 karta, tampok ng 15 knockout.

“To win my third title would be a great honor for me and put my name in with some of the best fighters my country has ever produced,” sambit ni Casimero.

Sinabi naman ng promoter ni Casimero na si Sampson Lewkowicz na makikipagnegosasyon siya para maikasa ang Pinoy boxer sa mga kampeon sa super flyweight division partikular kay Gonzalez at sa kampeon ng IBF na si Jerwin Ancajas na isa ring Pilipino.

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“He’s so strong and he keeps growing,” ani Lewkowicz. “It is time for John Riel to move up and secure his place in Philippines boxing history. It is our hope to quickly face Acajas and Chocolatito next year. That is what we will work to make happen.”

Malaki ang problema ni Gonzalez dahil pinupuwersa siya ni WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman na magdepensa sa kababayan nitong si Carlos Cuadras pero maliit ang alok na premyo.

Tinalo ni Gonzalez si Cuadras sa puntos noong nakaraang Setyembre 10 sa Inglewood Forum in Los Angeles, California sa United States para matamo ang ikaapat na world title sa iba’t ibang dibisyon.

“Mauricio Sulaimán said at the Miami Convention that was the fight [I would be involved in] because that’s what he wants. They could remove the title from me if I don’t accept, but it does not matter because I cannot fight in the manner that’s being required... for a purse that’s less than what we deserve,” sabi ni Gonzalez sa BoxingScene.com..

“If God wants [the fight to happen] and they pay me well as I’ve asked for a good purse - then we’ll fight,” dagdag ni Gonzalez na minsang ikinonsidera na labanan si Casimero noong nasa flyweight division pa siya. “We really cannot accept a rematch if they are going to pay me little. It would be better to fight in Japan for a smaller purse than in the United States - where you get hit with a lot of taxes and a very low purse is left at the end of everything.” (Gilbert Espeña)