Flyweight world contender McWilliams Arroyo will not fight this Saturday in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, because he is heading to an IBF elimination bout against Johnriel Casimero soon in the United States.
Arroyo (16-2, 14 KO’s) was supposed to fight an eight-round bout this Saturday at the Tomas Dones Coliseum, but the IBF ordered an elimination fight with the No. 1 ranked Johnriel Casimero, and the 2008 Olympian will go to that fight.
“We were negotiating several things to McWilliams, one of which was the possibility of facing world champion (Roman) Chocolatito Gonzalez but did not materialize, also this IBF elimination, and we wanted McWilliams active in August, but the IBF ordered this bout with the number one ranked and we are going to this opportunity,” said Peter Rivera, vice president of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP), company that represents McWilliams, who is currently ranked number four in the IBF and in 2014 lost a close and controversial split decision to IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng in Thailand.
McWilliams, gold medalist of the World Amateur Championships in 2009, the Pan American Games in 2007 and the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2006, is coming off a KO win last April 11 over Mexican Victor Ruiz. The Puerto Rican, whose twin-brother McJoe Arroyo won the IBF super-flyweight title last month, is also the world’s No. 6 rated for the WBO at 112 pounds.
Like Arroyo, the Philippine Casimero (21-3, 13 KO’s) lost a close decision against Ruenroeng in Thailand last June 27.
While, another PRBBP fighter, Jose “Chino” Lopez (4-0, 3 KO’s), will fight this Saturday in Fajardo, facing Julio Soto (0-2) in a four-round and junior welterweight bout. In his latest bout, Lopez won by TKO in the third round over Rey Rivera on April 11, 2015.