Casimero Off, Sultan In For Interim Bantamweight Bout Versus Paul Butler

WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero is out of his bout with Paul Butler for his latest violation, and fellow Filipino Jonas Sultan will now be the Englishman's new opponent.

Boxing Scene reported that the WBO Championship Committee held an emergency meeting regarding the situation and it concluded that Sultan and Butler’s fight will now be for the interim bantamweight title this Friday, April 22 in Liverpool, England.

Casimero’s hotly-anticipated bout with Butler was promptly canceled after the former’s appeal to fight was denied by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBoC).

“Quadro Alas” found himself in hot water after the BBoC was made aware that he used a sauna to help him drop weight as the board has a strict policy on the use of saunas.

“Wherefore, considering the preceding request, the WBO World Championship Committee hereby grants sanction approval for the subject matter bout between Paul Butler and first available World Bantamweight Contender Jonas Sultan to be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, at the Echo Arena [M&S Bank Arena] in Liverpool, England, United Kingdom,” said WBO founding president Luis Batista-Salas in a letter to both parties that Boxing Scene was able to acquire a copy of.

Sultan, the conqueror of the highly-touted Carlos Carballo, now has an opportunity to set up a date with his fellow countryman should he win over Butler.

The upcoming interim title bout with the English pugilist will serve as his second-ever world title shot after failing in his bid to take the IBF junior bantamweight belt off Jerwin Ancajas back in 2018.

Following his latest infraction, it remains to be seen whether the WBO will allow Casimero to keep his championship or whether they have had enough of his antics and decide to strip him, which will end his nearly three-year title reign in a disappointing fashion.