CASIMERO GETS IBF TITLE BELT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Mar 2012
Cebu City ? Johnriel Casimero finally got to wear the light flyweight title belt of the International Boxing Federation in a ceremony and press conference held Thursday at the Events Centre of SM Cebu. International promoter and matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz travelled for twenty hours to bring the belt here in the Philippines and for Casimero, it was worth the wait.
In one of the biggest boxing Philippine stories this year, the 22 year old Casimero stopped Luis Alberto Lazarte in 10 rounds in a fight marred by an ugly riot in Argentina. Casimero (16W-2L, 10 KO?s) will make his first defense against Sammy ?Guty? Gutierrez (31W-7L-2D, 21 KO?s) of Mexico this May 13.
?That is a lucky date for me,? Lewkowicz, who formally announced the match-up said, ?The fight will be held here, the most beautiful island in the Philippines ? Cebu. I have been here so many times and this is like a second home to me.?
Ulises Solis of Mexico, the injured champion in recess, has until October to fight Casimero or else the IBF will drop the interim tag and recognize the Ormoc City native as the regular champion,
?Solis is represented by Solar Sports here in the Philippines,? Promoter Sammy Gello-ani said, ?Yes, they have already contacted us regarding a fight. He has until October to face Casimero.?
The ceremony started with a public workout participated by boxers of the Omega Boxing Gym where Casimero trains.
One of those who joined the workout was Marvin Sonsona, who will fight Carlos Fulgencio of the Dominican Republic at the Lapu-lapu City Hoops Dome on March 17.
The boxers performed the various boxing exercises and hit the mitts with a live percussion band playing in the background.
Aside from Lewkowicz and Gello-ani, the awarding of the belt was attended by Angel dela Merced, the ADS and Promo manager of International Pharmaceuticals, which sponsors the Omega gym and Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama.
Also in attendance were WBO Asia-Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo, GAB supervisor Rolando Mendoza and members of the Cebu print, radio and television media.
Casimero thanked his promoter and matchmaker for the title opportunity and also thanked his trainer Cristopher ?Pingping? Tepora.
Lewkowicz reminisced about the time he brought Manny Pacquiao to fight in The U.S. He was also responsible for the overseas outings of Marvin Sonsona and Donnie Nietes.
Gello-ani also said that he admired Casimero?s professional behavior during the riot and that his boxer never threw a punch in retaliation.
Fans who gathered around the stage also got to see on a giant screen film clips of the fight, the riot and Casimero being interviewed by various Philippine television stations. Acting as master of ceremonies for the event was Bobby ?Knight? Inoferio of CCTN.
PHOTO ABOVE ? Casimero hugs Lewkowicz after being presented with the IBF title belt.
BELOW ? Left to right ? Angel dela Merced of IPI, Sampson Lewkowicz, Johnriel Casimero, and Sammy Gello-ani.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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