Casimero, Promoter to Fight in Another Court

Boxer Johnriel Casimero and his promoter Sammy Gello-ani are hauled to another fight, this time, before the court, after the manager and owner of Omega Boxing Gym Pio Castillo Jr. sued them for allegedly breaking a boxer-manager agreement.

Castillo, in his complaint filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC), said Casimero broke their contract after fighting without permission following his June 27 title bout with International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight king Amnat Ruenroeng in Bangkok, Thailand.

Under Paragraph 4 of the boxer-manager agreement, Casimero agreed that “(he) will not take part in any contests or other exhibitions or otherwise exercise his talents in any manner or place except as directed by manager and will not allow his name to be used in any boxing event whatsoever without first obtaining the written permission of his manager to do so.”

Castillo said he firmly believes that Casimero violated that and with the help of Gello-ani.

“It was clear from his acts that defendant Gello-ani, acting with malice and bad faith, induced defendant Casimero to violate the contract with plaintiff,” wrote Castillo Jr. in paragraph 5.2 of his complaint.

Castillo is asking 40 percent of Casimero’s purse from the Ruenroeng fight, wherein he lost by decision.

Castillo is also asking Php 500,000 in moral damages, Php 500,000 in exemplary damages and Php 200,000 in attorney’ fee.

Gello-ani, however, said he was willing to the face the complaint against him but he hasn’t received the copy filed by Castillo to the RTC.

“Up until now I haven’t received a complaint filed at the RTC so I can’t comment yet,” he said.

He said they already submitted an answer to the complaint filed at the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).

Gello-ani said Casimero has also returned from the US and is now in Ormoc City to face the charges filed against him. (PNA) RMA/EB/MP