Casimero won’t fight for peanuts

MANILA, Philippines — From here on, reigning WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero only wants the big fights, big names and big paychecks.

The 30-year-old native of Ormoc is looking at WBA and IBF champion Naoya Inoue of Japan and Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba at 118 pounds or Luis Neri of Mexico, the WBC king at 122 pounds.

But it’s Inoue, the Japanese “Monster,” that’s in Casimero’s thoughts 24/7. They were supposed to lock horns last April but for one reason or another, the fight was called off.

“I’m ready for anybody,’” Casimero told yesterday’s online version of the PSA Forum. He said he’d fight Conor McGregor if the UFC legend is thrown in front of him.

“My dream is to win all four belts (118 lbs),” said Casimero, fresh from a third-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Duke Micah of Ghana last Sunday in Connecticut.

With the big fights will come the big paychecks.

“Ayoko na ng maliit na kita (I will not fight for peanuts),” said Casimero, open to fighting in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s next bout, said to be against McGregor.