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 23 April 2024: King Ryan! Three Knockdowns Turn Haney's Dream Into a Nightmare
By Eric Armit, Wed, 24 Apr 2024Bucks, Clippers Drop Games to Pacers, Mavs
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 24 Apr 2024JAIME MUNGUIA LOS ANGELES MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Wed, 24 Apr 2024Undefeated Heavyweight Dainier Pero Set to Shine This Friday on DAZN
Wed, 24 Apr 2024IM Bagamasbad, NM Clarito Jr. lead UST chessers in IIEE rapid chess tilt on May 1
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 24 Apr 2024Luis Nery: “If Mike Tyson Can Lose His Unbeaten Record at Tokyo Dome, So Can Naoya Inoue!”
Wed, 24 Apr 2024Bulldogs prevail in Santa Maria
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 24 Apr 2024Wise Owl Boxing Fighters have a Knockout Weekend
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Sampson Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Bantamweight Bryan Acosta to an Exclusive Multi-Year Promotional Contract
Tue, 23 Apr 2024Will Manny fight again?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 23 Apr 2024Almost But Not Quite for Lakers, Sixers as Nuggets, Knicks Escape With Close Wins
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 23 Apr 2024SINSUAT NETFEST: Lim survives Aquino for 21U boys title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Apr 20241st CNES Chess tourney set for May 1
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 23 Apr 2024Pacquiao Beats the Weight Bullies and the Travesty of Day Before the Fight Weighin
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 23 Apr 2024Robert Guerrero III Secures Spectacular Victory with First Round Knockout in Tijuana Bout
Tue, 23 Apr 2024