WORLD Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero was tasked to defend his crown against mandatory challenger Paul Butler of England.
MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons relayed the information on Thursday, adding the Casimero-Butler fight could be scheduled in December.
“The WBO World Championship Committee orders the parties herein commencement of negotiations for the above-mentioned WBO Bantamweight Mandatory Championship Contest,” Luis Batista-Salas, chairman of the WBO Championship Committee, told the Casimero and Butler camps in a letter.
“Please be advised that the parties have 20 days upon receipt of this letter to reach an agreement,” Batista-Salas added.
The World Boxing Council earlier this week ordered Nonito Donaire Jr. to defend his bantamweight crown against fellow Filipino Raymart Gaballo.
Donaire (41-6 win-loss record with 27 knockouts) dethroned Frenchman Nordine Oubaali via a fourth-round knockout victory last May 29 in Carson City, California.
Both mandatory defense bouts by the two Filipinos, according to Gibbons, will go on full negotiations with both fights dependent on how much purse would be staked for the reigning champions.
Butler is handled by MTK Globak, but according to Gibbons, negotiations would involve the Englishman’s handlers, MP Promotions and TGB Promotions.
Casimero (31-4 win-loss record with 21 knockouts) successfully defended his belt twice—against Ghanian Duke Micah last September 2020 through a third-round technical knockout in Connecticut and via split decision against Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux last August in Carson City.
Gibbons expects Casimero to arrive in the US at the end of this month to resume his training under conditioning coach Angel Memo Heredia.
Casimero is presently on a short vacation in Ormoc City.