CASIMERO LOSES BY 5TH ROUND TKO IN IBF WORLD TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 Mar 2011
Former WBO Interim light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero has lost by a 5th round TKO in his IBF world title fight against champion Moruti ?Baby Face? Mthalane at the Nasrec Indoor Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday morning Manila Time.
The Sunday Times of Johannesburg reported that Casimero ?quit somewhat unexpectedly after taking a few blows to the head? in a bout that was never a one-sided affair.
South African referee Wally Snowball called a halt at1:51 of the fifth round when Casimero quit.
The fight was a war in the early rounds with both fighters exchanging flurries and Casimero using his quick footwork to good effect.
Casimero connected with a four-punch combination in the third round that tested the usually solid defense of Mthalane who, urged on by his hometown fans, slowly worked his way back behind an effective right uppercut.
Sensing that Casimero was tiring, Mthalane stepped up his aggressiveness and ultimately nailed Casimero with a left jab and a quick right to the Filipino?s jaw to force Casimero to back off and call it quits.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani told the Inquirer during the break in-between the third and fourth rounds, Casimero ?complained about his ribs but continued with a good round. Mthalane continued throwing body shots and during the 5th round Casimero dropped his mouth-guard and turned his back prompting the referee to stop the fight.?
Casimero reportedly told Gello-ani he ?couldn?t breathe.?
With the win Mthalane improved his record to 27-2 with 18 knockouts while Casimero suffered his second straight setback to drop to 14-2 with 8 knockouts.
Well known South African promoter Branco Milenkovic who promotes Mthalane had predicted that the champion would ?stop him (Casimero) in the later rounds? and that Mthalane had been training since December in preparation for a February fight that was postponed to make way for the big world title double-header.
Mthalane?s trainer Nick Durandt had also expressed confidence the title will remain in South Africa telling the media ?He (Casimero) doesn?t have what it takes to beat my little Zulu (Mthalane) over here.?
Mthalane won the title by beating Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda, the current WBO champion in a twelve round unanimous decision on November 20, 2009 and defended the title successfully with a 5th round TKO over countryman Zolani Tete on January 9, 2010.
The little South African Mthalane is remembered for giving newly crowned WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire some problems before the referee called a halt in the 6th round after Mthalane was badly cut and bleeding in their IBF/IBO title fight on November 1, 2008. Milenkovic claimed that Mthalane was ?very unfortunate against Donaire to lose on cuts in round six after doing very well in rounds 4, 5 and 6.? The multi-titled promoter said ?we all know how good Nonito is and this should give the boxing world an idea of how good Moruti is.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The WBC maintains protection in women's boxing with 2-minute rounds
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 07 Nov 2025Muntinlupa tops Sambo demo
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 07 Nov 2025Weights From Atlantic City
Fri, 07 Nov 2025DC Jiu Jitsu wins 6 golds, 4 silvers, 11 bronzes
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 07 Nov 2025Gladiator Management Fighters In Action This Fall
Thu, 06 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Doncic Shines as Lakers Topple Wembanyama and the Spurs 118-116
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Jellie Ann Magro wins 6 straight, Quezon City down Isabela in PCAP
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Carlos De Leon Castro Stays Perfect with Explosive TKO Win in Orlando on DAZN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Donaire in historic bid
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 06 Nov 2025BROADCAST DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR CMH2: BADOU JACK VS. NOEL MIKAELIAN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Top prospect Marco Romero A victim of dramatic changes in Today’s professional boxing world
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Closing of registration on Nov. 15 for SDSPPO TWG-PAGPTD Run in Tandag
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai & Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue Blockbuster Cards to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
Thu, 06 Nov 2025JUSTIN LACEY-PIERCE OUTLASTS COURTNEY PENNINGTON IN DETROIT
Wed, 05 Nov 2025The José Sulaimán Boxers’ Fund continues supporting fighters worldwide
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025