CAN CASIMERO RESTART HIS CAREER AT FLYWEIGHT?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Dec 2014
It has been seven months since John Riel Casimero lost his IBF world title after coming in five pounds over the light flyweight limit for what was supposed to be his fourth title defense. It was regrettable how a title won under precarious circumstances was lost before the first punch was thrown. What made it more lamentable was the fact that Mauricio Fuentes turned out to be such an easy opponent and was knocked out in one round.
Last February 10, 2012, Casimero won the interim version of the IBF light flyweight belt by 10th round TKO against Luis Alberto Lazarte.
The post-fight riot in Argentina gave Casimero and his team a lot of press mileage but Promoter Sammy Gello-ani looks back at the incident with a sense of dread knowing something tragic could have happened.
?That title almost cost us our lives,? Gello-ani told this writer a few months ago, ?It was something that should not have been given up so easily.?
After coming home to a hero?s welcome, Casimero was later recognized as the regular world champion of the 108lb division by the IBF and he proceeded to defend on the road twice against Pedro Guevara in Mexico and Luis Alberto Rios in Panama. He seemed headed for a long reign after stopping Felipe Salguero in Makati City, knocking down the Mexican challenger thrice enroute to an 11th round TKO win.
His fight against Fuentes was supposed to be the homecoming defense for the Omega Gym boxer here in Cebu City. It wasn?t just a world title that was lost but potential bigger paydays as well.
Now the 24 year old from Ormoc City, Leyte will once again make a foray into the 112 lb division when he faces Armando ?Cobra? Santos (14W-3L-1D, 8KO?s) in an IBF eliminator for the top flyweight contender spot set in Mexico.
Three years ago, Casimero (20W-2L, 12KO?s) lost in his first try to fight as a flyweight when he was stopped in five rounds by Moruti Mthalane in South Africa. Casimero also has a 1W-1L record in Mexico - both split decisions - a loss to Ramon Garcia Hirales and the title retention win against Guevara.
Last year, the 26 year old Santos beat Filipino Roilo Golez by unanimous decision for the WBC United States flyweight title. He captured the IBF International flyweight belt last February by beating Silvio Olteanu of Romania by majority decision in Mexico City.
The current IBF flyweight champion is Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand.
Casimero will face Santos on December 13. Promoter Sammy Gello-ani informed philboxing that Casimero and trainer Jun Agrabio left for the U.S. last Sunday and have arrived in LAX on their way to Mexico.
Casimero has shown that he can win on the road. Calling this fight as crucial for his career would be an understatement. He also needs a convincing win to make some noise in the talent-rich flyweight division.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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