JOHNRIEL CASIMERO, THE PRIDE OF ORMOC CITY
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 12 Feb 2012
Born in Ormoc City, the independent component city of Leyte, Johnriel Casimero was a national amateur boxing champion and a Palarong Pambansa gold medalist. As an amateur boxer, he was a standout not only in local fights, but in the national competition as well.
He toured Eastern Visayas, to include the cities of Tacloban and Maasin, as well as those of other regions, and harvested win after win in an extraordinary display of boxing prowess. During his prime as an amateur boxer, Ormoc City was a boxing power in this part of the country.
Nicknamed, Quadro Alas, he won the Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight title by a unanimous decision win over Rodel Quilaton. He defeated Thai boxer Liempetch Sor Veerapol by a fifth found TKO for the WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight title.
In 2009, Casimero won the vacant interim WBO light flyweight title by 11th round TKO over former champion Cesar Canchila of Colombia in Managua, Nicaragua. Canchila went down in the 8th and twice in the 11th after which the referee finally stopped the fight.
In his first title defense, Casimero lost to Ramon Garcia Hirales of Mexico by a split decision in Sinaloa, Mexico, handing Casimero his first defeat.
Casimero attempted at the world title when he challenged Moruti Mthalane of South Africa for the IBF world flyweight crown. He however suffered his second loss by a 5th round TKO at the hands of the South African.
Casimero?s dream was to battle Iv?n Calder?n of Puerto Rico during his prime. The former Ring and WBO light-flyweight champion previously defeated Filipino boxer Rodel Mayol.
Then came the very chaotic victory over Luis Alberto Lazarte in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Nicknamed, El Mosquito, Lazarte suffered his 11th loss with 49 wins and 18 KO?s. Casimero improved his record to 16-2 (10 KOs). It was a 10th round TKO and the crowd ganged up on the Filipino team of Casimero who won the vacant IBF interim light flyweight tile.
It was a show of savagery on the Argentinean fans who got angered by the defeat of their hometown hero. Bottles and chairs rained from fuming fans. Punches were thrown on our countrymen. Argentina is also notorious in the boxing world being known for hometown decisions favoring their own boxers.
It was victory turned into a nightmare for the Ormoc boxer, now trained at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City. For who would expect such a terrible behavior to happen from an unruly Argentinean crowd.
Chaotic it may had been, a victory deserved a celebration. Even if not at the land where Juan Peron once ruled as dictator, but here in our very own hospitable land. Because it?s more fun to celebrate it here in the Philippines. Kudos to Johnriel Casimero!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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