Casimero disqualified in title defense

MANILA, Philippines — WBO bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero has until today to plead his case in avoiding dethronement after being ruled out of his title defense against England’s Paul Butler in Liverpool tomorrow (Saturday morning, Manila time) for violating a British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) ban on sauna use for reducing weight.

In an earlier decision, the WBO decreed that Casimero would be stripped if he fails to fight Butler for whatever reason but “Quadro Alas” was given a 48-hour window to submit a “show cause” letter to explain why he shouldn’t be defrocked.

Casimero trained in San Diego for over a month then landed in Liverpool late last week to keep his appointment with Butler.

Unaware of the BBBofC rule, Casimero posted on his social media account pictures and a video showing him in a sauna room at Derby Lane Health & Fitness.

The rule states that “the use of saunas to lose weight is strictly forbidden by the BBBofC and any boxer found or suspected of using a sauna will be refused permission to box without exception.”

WBO championship committee chairman Luis Batista Salas wrote a letter to Casimero’s Russian manager Egis Klimas that “Casimero’s actions are against the Board’s medical guidelines and will not be permitted to compete accordingly.”

Salas ordered Casimero to submit a “show cause” letter within 48 hours from April 19 “as to why the WBO title shall not be declared vacant.”

As of last Tuesday, Casimero reportedly scaled 119.8 pounds or within striking distance of the bantamweight limit of 118.

But Salas said “the BBBofC indicated that Casimero has completed two check weights since arriving in the UK and these proceedings have shown an alarming reduction in weight of 10 pounds in only three days.”

Meanwhile, the WBO designated Filipino Jonas Sultan to replace Casimero and face Butler instead for the interim championship to save the promotion.

Butler is ranked No. 1 and Sultan No. 4 by the WBO.

Sultan, 30, has an 18-5 record, with 11 KOs while Butler, 33, is a former IBF bantamweight champion with a 33-2, with 15 KOs, slate.