PINOY PRIDE 42 UNDERCARD: CASIMERO-SULTAN BATTLE IS THE CENTER OF ATTENTION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 14 Sep 2017
In the Pinoy Pride 42 undercards former two-division champion Johnriel "Quadro Alas" Casimero (24-3, 15 KOs) battles Jonas "Zorro" Sultan (13-3, 9 KOs) in an IBF junior bantamweight eliminator while Jason "El Ni?o" Pagara (40-2, 25 KOs) faces Kenyan James ?Onyi? Onyango (20-11-1, 19 KOs) on Saturday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
* * *
Former IBF world flyweight champion Casimero will face Sultan in what is mandated by IBF as a title eliminator and is expected to be one of the most exciting matches in Philippine boxing. The winner between ALA Gym standout Sultan against two-division world champion Casimero will fight IBF super flyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas as mandatory challenger.
* * *
Michael Aldeguer, ALA Promotions president, said at a press conference at the Saint Mark Hotel: ?It took us a lot of time to make this decision. It?s going to be a breakout event for us and will be one of the biggest fight cards that we put up,? said Aldeguer. ?It?s an all Filipino war for the mandatory slot and for sure it will bring excitement to boxing fans.?
* * *
?There has been a lot of talk about a Filipino fighting another Filipino at the top level. Here it is, and for the right reasons,? said Aldeguer who disclosed that the matchup was ordered by the IBF. Casimero is ranked No. 3 while Sultan is ranked No. 8 by the IBF in the division. Nos. 1 and 2 are vacant.
* * *
The 25-year-old Sultan was ordered by the IBF to face Casimero because of Sultan?s satisfactory performance in his last four fights. Following his unanimous decision loss to Go Onaga of Japan on Nov. 11, 2015, Sultan won over Tatsuya Ikemizu (13-1-0 before the fight) by KO in two rounds on March 27, 2016 in Osaka, Japan.
* * *
Sultan won a 5th round stoppage of Romel Oliveros for the Philippine super flyweight title on May 28, 2016 in Bacolod. He traveled to South Africa to stop local boxer Makazole Tete (15-1-2 before the fight) in two rounds to capture the IBF intercontinental superfly title. Then Sultan defended his IBF intercontinental title by knocking out in the 8th round former world champion fellow Filipino Sonny Boy Jaro on May 7, 2017 at Jaro?s hometwon in Angono, Rizal.
* * *
The 27-year-old Casimero won the interim IBF world light flyweight title over Argentinian Luis Alberto Lazarte in that infamous ring riot after their fight on February 10, 2012 in Mar de Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Casimero then grabbed the regular IBF world light flyweight title on August 4, 2012 and successfully defended it twice before losing it on the scales on May 3, 2014.
* * *
Casimero won the IBF world flyweight title from Thai fighter Amnat Ruengroeng on May 25, 2016 in Beijing, China and successfully defended it against Charlie Edwards of Great Britain on September 10, 2016 before relinquishing it to move heavier to the super flyweight division. In his first superfly fight, he defeated Jecker Buhawe last June 25 in Iligan City.
* * *
ALA Promotions matchmaker and trainer Edito Villamor said that the Casimero-Sultan fight is great matchup for the fans. ?Both have power, they both move very well and both can counterpunch. This will be a great fight,? Villamor said. Aldeguer said he does not think of the Casimero-Sultan encounter as an ALA Gym boxer vs. another Philippine gym fighter but as a showcase of Filipino talents on the Pinoy Pride boxing series.
* * *
?That has always been objective,? Aldeguer said. ?We were always open to feature top Filipino fighters like Casimero and Marlon Tapales on Pinoy Pride.? Aldeguer added that he is planning to promote the world championship fight between Ancajas versus the Casimero-Sultan match winner. Because of the impending All-Filipino battle for the IBF junior bantamweight title the Casimero-Sultan matchup drew more media and boxing fans' attention.
* * *
Pagara, the WBO No. 3 light welterweight contender will clash with a substitute fighter Onyango after Ghanaian Richmond Djarbeng withdrew from the fight due to a road accident injury. Onyango, who has been boxing for eight years, has faced big named boxers such as the former world champion Julius Indongo, ex-interim world champion David Avanesyan and former world title challenger Denis Shafikov.
* * *
The Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez fight this coming Saturday is an epic encounter which could be compared with the Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns brawl billed as "The War." It was the world middleweight championship boxing match between the undisputed champion Hagler and the challenger Hearns, who was also the world's junior middleweight champion.
* * *
The fight is considered by many fight fans to be among the greatest boxing matches in history, due to its nonstop action, exciting drama, and blow by blow toe-to-toe exchanges. Hagler won the fight by a brutal third round knockout. British fight publication Boxing News called it "eight minutes of mayhem", while The Ring called the fight "the most electrifying eight minutes ever," and it was awarded Fight of the Year for 1985, despite the match lasting only three rounds.
* * *
In his latest fight last February 18, Onyango was too powerful for his Ugandan rival Patrick Atuhairwe by TKO in the second round. A depressed Atuhairwe insisted he was still strong even after being knocked down in round one and demanded another rematch. But Onyango, who blasted him with battering body punches told reporters that he?s through with the Ugandan, and now wants a tougher opponent.
* * *
?Time has come when I feel I need more competitive bouts and therefore the Ugandan would better look for other opponents as I am done with him," declared Onyango. The 33-year-old Kenyan has 19 wins by KO and had won 6 of his last 7 fights including a tenth round stoppage of Atuhairwe in their first fight in 2015. It was four losses in a row for Atuhairwe.
* * *
The Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez fight this coming Saturday is an epic encounter which could be compared to the Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns brawl billed as "The War." It was the world middleweight championship boxing match between the undisputed champion Hagler and the challenger Hearns, who was also the world's junior middleweight champion.
* * *
The fight is considered by many fight fans to be among the greatest boxing matches in history, due to its nonstop action, exciting drama, and blow by blow toe-to-toe exchanges. Hagler won the fight by a brutal third round knockout. British fight publication Boxing News called it "eight minutes of mayhem", while The Ring called the fight "the most electrifying eight minutes ever," and it was awarded Fight of the Year for 1985, despite the match lasting only three rounds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
NBA Daily: Wembanyama-less Spurs Dominate Lakers 132-119 in NBA Cup Quarterfinals
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 11 Dec 2025The 18th edition of the Kamatyas FIDE Rated Open Chess Tournament on December 13
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 11 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Contender Kevin “Alfa” Brown Ready to Challenge Cletus Seldin for WBA Interim World Title on December 13
Thu, 11 Dec 2025ProBox CEO Garry Jonas Says Team Lamont Roach Looking for Tank Rematch Next or Pitbull Rematch in DC
Thu, 11 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Celebrates Cebuana Lhuillier Sports Ambassadors Competing in SEA Games 2025
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 11 Dec 2025TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON ON JANUARY 31
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 10 Dec 2025QUOTES FROM TODAY’S CHM 2: REMATCH SEASON OPEN WORKOUT PRESENTED BY CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH
Wed, 10 Dec 2025Villarosa to fight Antaran on Dec. 18 in Bucana
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Dec 2025Opening Day Concludes at the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Wed, 10 Dec 2025Mangin is rising star in PH taekwondo
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Dec 2025CHICKEN RANCH CASINO RESORT BACKS DECEMBER 13 NIGHT IN STOCKTON
Tue, 09 Dec 2025Brackets Set for 2025 USA Boxing National Championships in Lubbock
Tue, 09 Dec 2025Petecio, Bautista, 4 others see action in SEAG on Dec. 10
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Super Welterweight Yoenis Tellez Ready for Redemption Bout vs. Kendo Castaneda on December 13
Tue, 09 Dec 2025Hot prospect Marco Romero Prepared to close 2025 in style
Tue, 09 Dec 2025