Naoya Inoue still committed to unification bout with John Riel Casimero

Naoya Inoue expected to be in Las Vegas preparing for a fight against John Riel Casimero when he turned 27 on April 10. Instead, with the fight off, he is with his family in Japan waiting out the coronavirus pandemic.

Such is life for boxers these days.

Inoue, speaking with BoxingScene.com, said he still intends to face Casimero in a title-unification bout when that’s possible. In the meantime, he’s doing what he can to stay in reasonable condition.

“I was going to have my 27-year-old birthday in Las Vegas doing physical preparations for my fight against John Riel Casimero,” Inoue told BoxingScene.com. “But because of what is happening today with the danger in this world, due to a coronavirus pandemic, I am now in Japan … surrounded by my family in peace and tranquility.

“My fight in Las Vegas was suspended because of coronavirus. I am still training at 60% intensity so I don’t to lose my physical form for whatever comes.”

Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) hopes he won’t have to travel far when the time comes to fight.

“Presumably my fight with John Riel Casimero would be possible to take place in Japan, provided that Japan is the safest location and a more reliable country than the U.S., as long as COVID-19 ends in Japan faster than the U.S.,” he said.

“Eight calendar years have passed since my professional boxing debut. I was able to consummate greater and more glorious achievements than I imagined by making the leap to being a professional, but, I can tell you, my holy ambition as a boxer is still half-finished.

“Now, my project is to continue my triumphant march, but it is momentarily interrupted by COVID-19. In spite of I harbor an immense feeling of desire and improvement so that I am capable of throwing myself strongly into an important fight to fulfill my great goal in boxing.”

Inoue is coming off a tougher-than-expected unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire in November, which was one of the most entertaining fights of 2019.

Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs) became a 118-pound titleholder in his most recent fight, a third-round knockout of Zolani Tete in November.