Two-division world champion John Riel Casimero is now looking to add a world title at a third weight class to his resume.
Casimero announced earlier in the week he will vacate his IBF flyweight championship, a title he has been holding since May and he will try to make the jump to the junior bantamweight division.
"To win my third title would be a great honor for me and put my name in with some of the best fighters my country has ever produced," Casimero said. "I will be immediately looking to make an impact and fight the big fights that allow me the opportunity."
Currently, the world champions representing the four main governing bodies of the sport in the junior bantamweight division are Naoya Inoue (WBO), Jerwin Ancajas (IBF), Khalid Yafai (WBA) and Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (WBC). There had only been 45 boxers who have won major world titles in three different weight classes in the history of the sport.
Aside from winning the IBF flyweight title, Casimero was the IBF junior flyweight champion from 2012-2014 when he lost the title after failing to make weight in a title defense against Mauricio Fuentes. His last fight was against Charlie Edwards in the undercard of the Gennady Golovkin vs. Kell Brook undercard on September 10, when Casimero won via TKO in the 10th round to defend his flyweight title. It was his only defense of the title.
To fill the vacant flyweight title, the IBF said it will order former strawweight and junior flyweight titleholder Donnie Nietes to face Eaktawan Krungthepthonburi.