CASIMERO STOPS FRANCO IN 12, CAPTURES WBO INTERIM BANTAM TITLE
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Apr 2019
Former two-division world champion John Riel Casimero of the Philippines won a hard-fought 12th round stoppage over Mexican slugger Ricardo Espinoza Franco to capture the WBO Interim world batamweight title at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA on the undercard of Danny Garcia-Andrian Granados main-header Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
Casimero (27-4-0, 17KOs) dropped Franco (23-3-0, 20KOs) in the 6th round but the Mexican knockout artist recovered and continued to press action as Casimero was catching for breath. Casimero caught Franco again in the 12th round for a second knockdown but after the Mexican beat the count, Casimero threw a barrage of unanswered punches before Referee Rudy Barragan stepped in to stop the carnage. Time: 44 seconds of the 12th round.
Casimero, who got derailed by a loss against compatriot Jonas Sultan on Sep. 16, 2017, is now back in harness by capturing a world title in a third division. The regular WBO world bantamweight champion is Zolani Tete of South Africa who will defend his WBO/WBA titles against Nonito Donaire Jr next week, April 27, in Lafayette, Louisiana for the WBSS tournament. The WBO earlier ruled that since the WBSS tournament will take time to finish, making the champion unavailable to defend his title against the WBO contenders, it sanctioned the Casimero-Franco fight for the Interim title.
Casimero earlier captured the IBF light flyweight and flyweight world titles.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 7 APRIL 2026: Santiago Retains WBA/WBO Titles in Tokyo; Taduran KOs Perez in 5; Price Decisions Aquino; Wins by Wilder, Bentley and Tim Tszyu
By Eric Armit, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Carlo Biado is the last Filipino standing in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-Ball World Championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Unification next for Taduran?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 07 Apr 2026BEN WHITTAKER REPLACES INJURED CALLUM SMITH AS THE NEW MAIN EVENT FOR LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18 – LIVE ON DAZN
Tue, 07 Apr 2026Filipino chess phenom triumphs at Krefelder Osteropen 2026 chess tournament in Germany
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026ProBoxTV Travels to Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, This Friday, April 10, as Hebert Conceicao Sousa Battles Power-Punching South American Johan Gonzalez in Middleweight Main Event
Tue, 07 Apr 2026Yokasta Valle vs Lourdes Juarez for WBC Female world championship?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 07 Apr 2026GM Joey Antonio ties for 10th in Canberra chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Canelo Expected to Return on September 15 in Riyadh
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 07 Apr 2026Ring Masters Championships 2026 Finals April 10 at Madison Square Garden
Tue, 07 Apr 2026Jeffrey de Luna keep the Philippines alive in the 2026 Yalin WPA Men's 8-ball World Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, USA
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 07 Apr 2026NOTHING BUT SPORTZ PRESENTS GAMBOA & RIGONDEAUX — MAY 2 IN MIAMI ONE NIGHT. SAME CARD. HAVANA HEAT
Mon, 06 Apr 2026Wilkens Mathieu Against Olympic Medallist Esquiva Falcao at the Théâtre Capitole of Quebec City on June 11!
Mon, 06 Apr 2026National Master Jasper Faeldonia rules Romblon chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 06 Apr 2026Twin wins for Pinoy boxers
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 05 Apr 2026