THREE-DIVISION world champion Johnriel Casimero faces world-ranked super bantamweight Ryo Akaho on Dec. 3, 2022 at the Paradise City Hotel in Incheon, South Korea.
Casimero is out to redeem himself after being stripped of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown in May.
Casimero was supposed to defend his belt against Paul Butler on April 22 in Liverpool, England. However, he was barred by the British Boxing Board of Control from fighting after he broke the rules of using saunas to cut down on weight.
The 33-year-old Casimero was originally scheduled to defend his belt against Butler on Dec. 11, 2021 in Dubai. But Casimero was forced to pull out after suffering gastritis.
Casimero, who has had some weight problems in the past, apparently might move up in weight against Akaho, who’s rated in the super bantamweight division.
Akaho is currently ranked No. 9 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 14 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 20 by the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Even though Casimero’s been inactive for more than a year, he’s still rated No. 2 by the WBO.
Casimero last saw action on Aug. 14, 2021, wherein he beat Guillermo Rigondeaux by split decision in Carson, California.
Akaho is currently riding a 13-fight winning streak since failing in his bid for a world title in 2015. He fought Panya Uthok for the vacant WBO bantamweight belt but was knocked out in two rounds in Thailand.
The 36-year-old Akaho is coming off a first round knockout of Edrin Dapudong last Sept. 3 in Tokyo, Japan.
Casimero is 31-4 with 21 knockouts, while Akaho is 39-2-2 with 26 knockouts.