CASIMERO TARGETS WBO/WBA CHAMPION ESTRADA IN TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 05 May 2014
Unable to make the light flyweight limit of 108 pounds and losing his IBF title on the scales after he was five pounds overweight at the official weigh-in for his mandatory title defense against Mauricio Fuentes of Colombia, former champion Johnreil Casimero is moving up to flyweight (112 pounds) and is targeting WBO/WBA champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico after one tune-up fight.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani said Casimero who battered Fuentes and dropped him three times to win by a merciful stoppage in the opening round ?is more interested in fighting WBO/WBA champion Juan Francisco Estrada?, the tough Mexican who won the titles from Brian Viloria via a split decision on April 6. 2013 and then successfully defended it against the previously unbeaten Milan Melindo on July 27, 2013 with both title fights taking place at the sprawling Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau.
Gello-ani said he told Casimero that the champions and contenders in the flyweight division of the various boxing organizations are ?very competitive and very good and strong fighters. It won't be an easy one. But the boy feels he will be comfortable and effective at the flyweight limit since he won?t have a problem making weight.?
Casimero may have sacrificed his belt on the scales but he looked every inch like a champion when he blasted Mauricio Fuentes who was mandatory challenger despite being ranked No.12 by the IBF because none of the other higher ranked fighters wanted to face Casimero.
Casimero dropped the overmatched Fuentes three times in the opening round using vicious combinations capped by a cracking right hand, forcing referee Gerard White to stop the massacre at 2:59 of the opening round.
Well known referee and judge Bruce McTavish told the Manila Standard that Casimero was ?sensational and it was the best two minutes of boxing I?ve seen for some time.?
With the smashing win Casimero improves to 20-2 with 12 knockouts while Fuentes drops to 16-3 with 10 knockouts.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani told the Manila Standard that he learned only on Friday morning that Casimero was not willing to try and reduce weight by going to the sauna because ?it was very hard for him. His muscles have grown.?
Gello-ani recalled that in his last fight against Felipe Salguero over whom he scored an 11th round TKO, Casimero was 1.5 pounds over the limit and had to reduce to make the weight.
The promoter who is a partner with international promoter/matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz said they are ?planning to have him fight again two months from now. It may be a non-title first after which we can perhaps program a title fight.?
The opportunity for an IBF flyweight title fight was ruled out by Gello-ani who disclosed that ?we have a eliminator for Rey Saludar so maybe we will campaign in other boxing organizations and we plan to advise the WBC since Casimero is not rated and is no longer an IBF champion.?
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