John Riel Casimero should forget Naoya Inoue for now — analyst

Veteran boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino believes that former three-division champion John Riel Casimero should focus on reviving his career instead of chasing a fight with the unified bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.

Casimero ended his year-long layoff against Ryo Akaho last Saturday but his comeback party was spoiled when the fight ended via no contest. For Tolentino, it is hard to make a case that the Filipino has earned a big fight with the Japanese superstar.

“I think it is unlikely to happen that Inoue is next, I do not think so. Casimero is back to square one in my opinion,” Tolentino said in an interview on Sparring Sessions.

“He (Casimero) is yet to answer the questions that hound his career. He has to stay focused and get back in the ring. He should take Inoue out of his mind and instead focus on bringing back the old Casimero then we can talk about Inoue after that.”

Inoue, meanwhile, is slated to face the WBO world bantamweight champion Paul Butler on December 13 in Japan. Should Inoue steamroll Butler as expected, he would become the first Japanese in boxing history to become an undisputed champion.

“I do believe Inoue does not have Casimero in his mind,” Tolentino quipped.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News