John Riel Casimero to face Namibian puncher in homecoming bout

Former three-division world champion John Riel Casimero is set to face the reigning WBO global super bantamweight champion Fillipus Nghitumbwa in his homecoming bout at Okada Manila on May 13 in Paranaque.

Casimero, 32-4 with 22 knockouts as a professional boxer, is coming off a second-round knockout over Ryo Akaho last December. The upcoming bout will be his first as a Treasure Boxing Promotions fighter having signed with the Japanese startup last February.

Nghitumbwa, meanwhile, will be fighting on foreign soil for the first time in his career. He holds an impressive professional record of 12-1 with 11 knockouts, having won 11 straight bouts after he lost his pro debut in 2017.

The upcoming bout will be Casimero’s first fight in the Philippines since 2019 when he defeated Cesar Ramirez by way of tenth-round knockout.

—JM Siasat/JMB, GMA Integrated News