CASIMIRO WANTS CALDERON
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Dec 2009
Newly crowned WBO light flyweight interim champion Johnreil “Quadro Alas” Casimiro arrived to a warm Christmas eve welcome in Manila with his newly-won belt to show for a sensational 11th round knockout over tough Cesar Chancila of Colombia and said he wants Puerto Rico’s Ivan “Iron Boy” Calderon next.
The 34 year old Calderon is undefeated with a record of 34-1 with 6 knockouts while Casimiro, the reigning WBO Asia Pacific champion is also undefeated has a record of 14-0 with 8 knockouts.
Accompanied by elite trainer Nonito Donaire Sr, the 19 year old Casimiro said that while it was up to Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani and his partner, internationally known matchmaker/promoter Sampson Lewkowicz to decide who his next opponent would be , both he and Donaire said “hopefully we can fight Calderon. That’s who we want but maybe Calderon won’t fight him because he knows how hard Johnreil hits.”
Despite facing a strong opponent with well-known punching power and stamina, Casimiro dropped Chancila no less that five times before the referee decided it was all over in the eleventh round after Casimiro dropped Canchila for a second time in the round.
Casimiro said he hopes that a fight against the undefeated Caledron could be held in Manila so his hometown fans would get a chance to see him in action.
Donaire said not only was Canchila “very strong, he was also bigger” than Casimiro but revealed that during their two months training he was convinced Casimiro would win by knockout.
Donaire said that Casimiro dropped Canchila five times because “he caught him with solid blows but typical of Hispanics Canchilla was sturdy and always got up.” The respected trainer who steered his son Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire to the IBF/IBO world flyweight titles when he scored a spectacular 5th round knockout over Vic Darchinyan in July 2007 said Casimiro “has power in both hands and I was surprised that his opponent lasted eleven rounds.”
It was Casimiro’s first fight outside his native Philippines and Donaire claimed he was “overwhelmed by the crowd and waited for Canchila to land a punch.” Casimiro however was quick to point out that the crowd didn’t bother him because he was there in Managua, Nicaragua “ready to fight once I got into the ring.”
Casimiro said the secret of his success against Canchila was “training hard, training all the time and praying always.”
The teenaged champion said he “dreamed daily of winning the title as a Christmas gift” both for himself, his family and the Filipino people.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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