A civil suit for P1.2 million in damages was filed before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City against former world light flyweight title holder John Riel Casimero and a boxing promoter for breach of contract.
Casimero, an Ormoc City native who trained and began his boxing career in Cebu City, was accused of violating his Boxer-Manager Contract when he decided to train and fight under the supervision of another promoter Samson Gello-ani.
Pio Castillo Jr., who managed Casimero for several years, asked the court to order the boxer to comply with his obligations under the contract, and avoid joining any contests or other exhibitions without written permission.
Castillo said the boxer should turn over his share in the June 27 boxing match in Thailand where the boxer lost.
Castillo is seeking P1.2 million in damages from Casimero and promoter Gello-ani.
Castillo’s lawyer Manuel Espina, in a complaint filed in court, said the boxer earlier agreed to “render services solely and exclusively for plaintiff and agreed that all his boxing contests shall be solely and exclusively designated by plaintiff.”
Casimero was accused of breaking his contract when he entered into a fight deal and joined a boxing bout in Thailand against International Boxing Federation Champion Amnat Roenrueng last June 27.
The manager said Casimero could not have violated his contract, trained in Las Vegas and fought in Thailand by himself.
He said it was clear from his acts that “Gello-ani, acting with malice and bad faith, induced defendant Casimero to violate his contract.”
In Oct. 2014, Gello-ani asked permission from Castillo to promote and arrange Casimero’s fight with a Mexican boxer.
Castillo agreed. But after the fight in December 2014, Casimero failed to report to the Omega Boxing Gym in Cebu City.
Last June 2015, Castillo learned that Casimero had been training at Las Vegas, Nevada, USA under the supervision of Gello-ani.
Castillo was also informed that Gello-ani had set up a boxing match between Casimero and another fighter in Thailand.
Despite his protest, the fight went ahead last June 2015.
Casimero was defeated in that match.