Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes IBF/WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, believes there is a realistic possibility that his boxer could unify with WBO champion John Riel Casimero in February or March of next year.

“My Japanese partner [Akihiro Honda] said they would like to get Inoue back in action by February or March, the first quarter of next year, and that’s what we are going to do,” Arum told Josef Ramos of Business Mirror via an overseas phone call from Las Vegas. “And Casimero is a very good possibility [as Inoue’s next foe].”

Casimero and Inoue were supposed to unify their belts in April in Las Vegas. The event was called off due to the coronavirus pandemic - and both boxers went in different directions.

Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs) returned to action in September and knocked out undefeated Duke Micah in three rounds as part of a Showtime PPV event at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

And Inoue was back this past Saturday night at the MGM Grand's Conference Center, when he battered and stopped Jason Moloney in seven rounds.

The veteran promoter was very impressed with the Inoue's performance. He saw shades of a young Manny Pacquiao. The bout with Moloney was Inoue's first fight under his new promotional deal with Top Rank.

Arum would like to stage Inoue-Casimero before a limited amount of paying fans.

“We’ll consider him for that fight if he is ready to do it,” said Arum.

“I thought Inoue looks sensationalized, you know, he reminded me of the young Manny Pacquiao the way he fought and he is just a tremendous fighter with great footwork, very fast, and he punches like I’ve never seen a bantamweight punch like it."