John Riel Casimero would've beaten Paul Butler, says analyst

Veteran boxing analyst Ed Tolentino is convinced that WBO world bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero would have defeated Paul Butler last weekend in Liverpool if their fight went through as scheduled.

Casimero was replaced by Jonas Sultan when the former violated a British Boxing Board of Control policy that prohibits fighters to use a sauna before a fight. Sultan and Butler fought for WBO interim bantamweight title as a result, but the Filipino lost via unanimous decision.

"First of all, Casimero has a good variety of punches. You saw what he did to Zolani Tete? Did you see that awkward angle where he got close then was able to turn his punch? Rigondeaux was a tough fight for him, but Rigondeaux is better than Butler," said Tolentino.

"Butler cannot create that much space if that was Casimero on the other end, he would get caught in my opinion. Casimero has better angles for his punches, he swarms you, and can throw from the most unimaginable angles."

The fight between Sultan and Butler saw the latter outboxing the Filipino pug all night en route to winning the fight on the scorecards—a game plan that the local favorite would have not pulled off if it was Casimero in front of him, according to Tolentino.

"You'd think Casimero is doing a pivot then he would catch you. That is how good he is plus his experience, I think Butler would've been more intimidated if it was him on the opposite corner of the ring."

—MGP, GMA News