For breach of contract: Boxer Casimero sued by manager

CEBU, Philippines - Filipino boxer John Reil Casimero is facing charges before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City for alleged breach of contract.

Casimero, from Ormoc City, Leyte, is being asked to pay P1 million in damages and P200,000 in attorney’s fees by boxing manager Pio Castillo, Jr.

Castillo, who resides in Cebu City, alleged that Casimero did not finish his 10-year contract with him.

Castillo said that effective on August 3, 2007, he and Casimero entered into a manager-boxer contract for five years.

In 2013, they entered into another contract for a period of 10 years under which Casimero allegedly agreed that Castillo would manage solely and exclusively all his professional rights.

Castillo added that he would provide training, a trainer and training equipment to Casimero.

In 2009, Castillo said he and Casimero entered into a memorandum of agreement with SGS Sports and Promotion Services represented by Samson Gelloani as their sole and official boxing promoter. The MOA expired in 2014.

From 2008 to 2013, Casimero fought numerous domestic and international fights and won the International Boxing Federation Flyweight, according to Castillo.

But May 3 last year, the boxing manager said Casimero stopped reporting for training to Omega Boxing Gym and left the housing accommodation provided to him.

In June this year, Castillo said he learned that Casimero had a scheduled fight and had undergone training in Las Vegas without informing him.

The fight was on June 27 at Bangkok, Thailand where Casimero lost to IBP world flyweight champion Amnat Roenrueng.

According to Castillo, the fight violated their contract.

“Under pertinent provisions of the law on obligations and contracts, plaintiff has a cause of action to enforce the fulfillment of defendant Casimero’s obligation not take part in any contests or other exhibitions or otherwise exercise his talents in any manner or place except as directed by the manager and will not allow his name to be used in any boxing event whatsoever without first obtaining the written permission of his manager to do so,” the complaint read.  Casimero and Gelloani are set to answer the allegations filed against them. — Mylen P. Manto/NSA (FREEMAN)