The World Boxing Organization removed the WBO world bantamweight belt from Filipino boxer John Riel Casimero.
Casimero, 31-4 with 21 knockouts, won that title when he defeated Zolani Tete in 2019.
Casimero has defended the title twice, most recently last August against Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Casimero was supposed to defend the title again against Paul Butler in December in Dubai, but the Filipino did not continue to suffer from gastritis.
Their fight was rescheduled for April 22 but did not resume after Casimero allegedly violated the British Boxing Board of Control’s policy that it is forbidden to lose weight by using a sauna.
Casimero was replaced by fellow Filipino boxer Jonas Sultan for the WBO interim bantamweight title but lost via unanimous decision to Butler.
“The Committee unanimously recommended to the WBO Executive Committee strip John Riel Casimero’s WBO World Bantamweight Championship Title for failure to comply with the conditions set forth in its Resolution,” according to the WBO resolution.
As a result, Butler will be the official champion in such a division from being the “interim” champ.
John Riel Casimero stripped of WBO championship belt
Casimero will be the No. 1 contender for the title.
“The WBO World Championship Committee recommends to the WBO Ratings Committee that John Riel Casimero be rated at the number one (1) position in the WBO Bantamweight Rating Ratings and subject to complying with the applicable rating criteria,” the resolution read.
In February, John Riel Casimero vehemently denied the allegation that he allegedly molested a minor.
The said complaint against the Filipino boxing champ is allegedly related to the case of “acts of lasciviousness” and violation of RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) because the alleged victim is 17-years-old.
“I vehemently deny any accusations thrown at me regarding a blotter concerning an alleged female minor and vow to clean my name for not only myself and my family, but also my country, the Philippines,” the boxer said in his statement.
John Riel Casimero’s brother and trainer, Jayson, had earlier said that the allegation against the champion was fabricated.
They said they knew who was behind it.
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