Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) – Filipino boxer John Riel Casimero has been stripped of his world bantamweight crown by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
In the resolution promulgated by the WBO Championship Committee on Tuesday, Casimero was removed from his reign for failing twice to fight British challenger Paul Butler for his title defense.
The WBO elevated Butler as the new world bantamweight champion in full status and relegated Casimero as the top contender in the division.
Casimero, who sports a win-loss record of 31-4 along with 21 knockouts, was supposed to fight Butler last December but the Filipino pugilist backed out on weigh-in day due to gastritis.
Their fight was rescheduled for April 22, but the British Boxing Board of Control struck out Casimero from the bout for violating its policy of preventing boxers to use sauna for weight loss purposes.
Compatriot Jonas Sultan subbed in for Casimero against Butler in the April 22 bout for the WBO interim bantamweight title, but the Filipino lost via unanimous decision.
