Will Casimero sock it to Tete?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 14 Nov 2019
Casimero (R) and Tete (L).
Two-time world champion Johnriel Casimero takes on defending WBO bantamweight titlist Zolani Tete of South Africa at the 15,800-seat Arena Birmingham, UK, on Nov. 30 as the Ormoc slugger attempts to join super WBA welterweight king Sen. Manny Pacquiao, IBF superflyweight top dog Jerwin Ancajas and IBF minimumweight ruler Pedro Taduran as the country’s remaining beltholders after the recent losses of Vic Saludar and Nonito Donaire, Jr.
Casimero, 29, is taking a big risk in battling Tete, 31, who’s won five fights in the UK, his second home. But fighting on the road is nothing new to the Filipino. He’s victimized opponents in Carson, Tijuana, London, Beijing, Nueva Leon, Panama, Mazatlan, Buenos Aires and Managua. Casimero couldn’t care less where he fights.
Tete is five inches taller and has an eight-inch reach advantage so Casimero must work under difficult physical circumstances to locate the long-limbed South African in the ring. Casimero is a patient workhorse and he’s content to break down his opponent bit by bit until it’s time for lights out. Some of Casimero’s toughest opponents were dispatched in late rounds like Ricardo Espinoza in the 12th, Cesar Ramirez in the 10th, Cesar Canchila in the 11th, Luis Lazarte in the 10th, Felipe Salguero in the 11th and Charlie Edwards in the 10th. Casimero rarely runs out of gas and always tries to keep something in reserve for the late going.
Casimero has a bone to pick against Tete. So it’s not just the WBO title he wants. Casimero is out for revenge. That’s because in 2011, he lost to South African Moruti Mthalane on a fifth round stoppage in Johannesburg. Casimero couldn’t adjust to South Africa’s high altitude and gasped for breath as the fight wore on, eventually surrendering to Mthalane. He’s never fought a South African again. Tete will be his first South African opponent since the Mthalane defeat and Casimero is determined to even the score.
Casimero has fought once in the UK, halting Edwards at the O2 Arena in 2016. The O2 Arena has a seating capacity of 20,000 and is the UK’s second largest indoor stadium behind the 21,000-seat Manchester Arena. The Birmingham facility ranks third but in 1991, it opened as the UK’s largest. The more hostile the crowd, the more driven Casimero is to knock out his opponent. In 2012, he halted Lazarte in Buenos Aires in front of the hometown hero’s trucking union teamsters who couldn’t take the loss and rioted. Casimero hid under the ring to avoid the mob attack and had to be escorted to the airport to fly out of the country by police the next day.
Casimero’s advantage is raw power. He packs dynamite in both fists and is fearless. Tete’s been stopped only once, coincidentally by Mthalane. His two other losses were to Mexico’s Juan Alberto Rosas by a majority decision and to Argentina’s Roberto Sosa by a split verdict. Tete’s durability will be severely tested in Birmingham. For the record, Tete has fought five Filipinos previously and beat them all, two (Rexon Flores and Eduard Panerio) by a first round KO. The three others lost on points----Richard Garcia, Jether Oliva and Arthur Villanueva. Tete’s record is 28-3, with 21 KOs while Casimero’s slate is 28-4, with 19 KOs.
Casimero left Manila to train in Las Vegas last Oct. 4. Conditioning expert Memo Heredia was recruited by MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons to get Casimero ready for Tete. Casimero leaves Las Vegas for Birmingham on Nov. 21. He’ll be joined by trainer Nonoy Neri and assistant coach Ting Ariosa. Gibbons will fly to Birmingham for the fight and may join the team in Casimero’s corner.
Gibbons said he has no doubt that Casimero will dethrone Tete. “Casimero’s an amazing fighter,” he said. “He has won in seven countries and two world titles plus the interim WBO bantamweight championship. He’s just a very focused fighter in the ring. He beats Tete by a late knockout or decision."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Weights From Washington, PA
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
Sat, 19 Apr 2025JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
Sat, 19 Apr 2025June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Sat, 19 Apr 2025H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
Sat, 19 Apr 2025FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Apr 2025SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
Fri, 18 Apr 2025UFC® RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY WITH BLOCKBUSER CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION LEO ATANG SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Fri, 18 Apr 2025