Where’s Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue?

In a fresh video from Las Vegas, Johnriel Casimero was swearing how he would never stop monster-hunting. Nothing really new there. It has been Casimero’s battle cry since day one.

“Inoue is good, but I’m really very strong,” Casimero exclaimed in a fresh appearance on Youtube.

Casimero also continued to cry he would emerge as the real monster come fight time.

-----------------------There’s a problem. Casimero, who earlier surmised Inoue must’ve arrived in Las Vegas ahead, has lost track.

Casimero moved into Las Vegas last month, after a monthlong training in Florida.

He was at the peak of preparations when the coronavirus pandemic struck, thus causing a forced postponement to his April 25 triple world bantamweight crown unification showdown with Inoue.

Casimero is the WBO bantamweight champion, while Inoue, 27, owns the IBF and

WBA versions of the 118-pound world title.

-----------------------Casimero has been longing for a chance to return to the Philippines to be with his family and train in familiar surroundings.

It might surprise Casimero to know that his unbeaten Japanese rival (19-0, 16 KOS) has since returned almost unnoticed to Tokyo.

Inoue has issued a statement thru Boxingscene.com last week:

-----------------------

“I’m now in Japan. I can spend my life surrounded by my family in peace and tranquility. I’m still training at 60-percent intensity. I don’t lose my physical form for whatever comes. Eight years have passed since my boxing debut. I was able to make greater and glorious achievements than I imagined. But my body condition is ready for bigger challenges. My project is to continue my triumphant march. ”

Inoue, in that statement, didn’t make mention of Casimero; but it’s no secret he’s aiming to blitz past the Filipino star, a mainstay in the Manny Pacquiao Promotions.

Inoue also expressed a wish his fight with Casimero, a postponed main offering originally set by Top Rank Inc., in Las Vegas, would take place in Japan—“provided COVID-19 ends in Japan faster than in the US.”

The amazing Inoue said he wants to fight until he’s 35.