Casimero adds Inoue’s brother Takuma in hit list

CEBU, Philippines — Filipino three-division world champion John Riel "Quadro Alas" Casimero (30-4, 21KOs) made it loud and clear who he wanst to fight next after successfully defending his WBO bantamweight title just two days ago.

The 31-year-old Casimero delivered a boxing masterclass in his three-round knockout of the previously unbeaten African challenger Duke Micah of Ghana to keep his WBO belt last Sunday at the Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Moments after his resounding triumph, the fighting pride of Ormoc City  did not mince words in calling out again the undefeated IBF/WBA unified champion Naoya "The Monster" Inoue (19-0, 16KOs) of Japan for a unification bout.

They were orginally set to clash in Las Vegas last April but after several postponements, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum decided to pull the plug on the megafight due to economic reasons brought about by the global pandemic.

But for Casimero, Naoya is simply scared.

"He's (Inoue) not a monster, he's a Japanese turtle," said Casimero in taunting his Japanese rival. “I’m the real monster. Naoya Inoue is scared of me. You’re next."

For the bout to happen though, Inoue need to take charge first of business against Australian contender Jason Moloney on October 31 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

If he doesn't get a showdown with Inoue, Casimero said he's train his sights on the other champions in the 118-pound weight class in Luis Nery of Mexico (WBC) and Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba (WBA).

Interestingly, Casimero adds Inoue's brother Takuma, who once the WBC interim bantamweight crown, in his hit list.

"If he (Naoya) doesn't want to fight me, I'm more than willing to take on his brother Takuma Inoue. Any of the top fighters (bantamweight division) who want to rumble with me in the ring, let's bring it on," declared Casimero.