CASIMERO SENDS MESSAGE TO THE FLYWEIGHT DIVISION
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 15 Dec 2014
Johnriel Casimero was all too familiar with the scenario of fighting on the road with his career on the line. There were lingering questions going into this bout as to whether he can perform at the top level as a flyweight. But Casimero delivered in style with an emphatic second round TKO against Mexican Armando Santos and made himself a serious contender in the 112 lb division.
Casimero's left hook at the end of the opening round should have been enough to end the fight but the bell was merciful. A brutal volley in the early seconds of round two finished the job.
Casimero, who fights out of the Omega gym in Cebu, transferred his training base to Metro Manila under Jun Agrabio. He was widely reported to be working hard in the gym.
But there were still question marks about his weight days before the fight. When he lost his IBF junior flyweight title on the scales seven months ago, he didn?t just go over the 108 lb limit, he was a pound over the flyweight limit.
Casimero not only made weight, but he showed that he could carry his natural power up to 112 lbs. His performance last weekend was way better than the debacle in South Africa in 2011 when he lost by fifth round TKO to then IBF flyweight champ Moruti Mthalane.
He bounced back from that loss when he went down in weight again in 2012, with his title win against Luis Alberto Lazarte in Argentina, a fight punctuated by the infamous post-fight riot.
Casimero?s win in this IBF flyweight eliminator puts him in a collision course against the Thai world champion Amnat Ruenroeng. The flyweight division is teeming with talent like the Chinese rising star Zou Shiming, WBO/WBA champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, WBC champ and the division?s top gun Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua, former champs Brian Viloria, Kazuto Ioka of Japan and Moruti Mthalane
This was a statement fight for Casimero (21W-2L, 13KO's) and he remains a force to be reckoned with.
Photo: Johnriel Casimero (R) and Armando Santos during Friday's weighin in Mexico.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Santisima Wins But Vicelles Loses; Suarez-Navarrete Rematch Hangs in the Balance?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Locked & loaded for Lewis Crocker rematch, Paddy Donovan has prepared to be crowned the new IBF Welterweight World Champion
Mon, 08 Sep 2025Robby Gonzales Advances to Round of 16 with Win Over Cuba
Mon, 08 Sep 2025James Padua rules Marikina rapid chess championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Remembering Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde: A Pilgrimage of Gratitude
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Hometown Triumph: Oscar Valdez Defeats Ricky Medina by Decision
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Team USA Captures Two Wins on Day Three of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Sun, 07 Sep 2025McCormack Stops Parra in 9
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Monika Singh Makes History as India's Newest Youth World Champion
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Who is Nico Walsh?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Kelvin Watts Highlights Day Two of World Boxing Championships for Team USA
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina
Sat, 06 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LOS MOCHIS: Eduardo Nuñez - 130 Lbs., Christopher Diaz - 129.6 Lbs.
Sat, 06 Sep 2025“THE HOMECOMING” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
Sat, 06 Sep 2025‘SUGAR’ NUNEZ VS. ‘PITUFO’ DIAZ – PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Sat, 06 Sep 2025