Casimero To Defend His IBF World Title This May

The Philippines has only two world boxing champions and one of them will stake his title in May.

John Riel Casimero, a fighter from Sammy Gello-ani’s stable, gained popularity for all the wrong reasons. Instead of being celebrated for winning a world title back in 2012, Casimero’s name exploded on the scene because of the riot in Argentina immediately after he knocked out Luis Albert Lazarte.

Two years after the ugly incident, Casimero’s name is still best remembered for it. He’s trying to change that by fighting big name opponents but the steep cost of getting popular fighter to fly to the Philippines along with the lukewarm reception of advertisers for boxing these days prevent him from doing just that.

Gello-ani has no other choice but to get a dangerous yet unpopular opponent for Casimero in what’s set-up to be a high-risk, low-reward fight for him.

“This is a sacrificial promotion just to make it happen,” Gello-Ani told veteran boxing writer Ronnie Nathanielsz. “We just helped one another with the management of Omega (who manage Casimero) and my co-promoter Sampson Lewkowicz for the mandatory defense of Casimero.”

Casimero (19-2-0, 11 knockouts) defended his title against Felipe Salguero last October in Makati with a tenth round technical knockout win. He will have his second straight defense in home soil as he takes on Mauricio Fuentes (16-2-0, 10 KOs) of Colombia on May 3 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu.

“Everything is in place and I have already got the tickets of Fuentes who will arrive on April 30 with his trainer Alvinio Martinez,” clarified Gello-ani. Although the promoter knows this is just a stay-busy fight for his ward, he still warned him not to be overconfident.

“Although Fuentes has not established a good name yet, this is boxing and he may have something to deliver,” said Gello-ani.

Fuentes has never fought outside his native country but for Gello-ani, it’s better him than Casimero.

After Merlito Sabillo lost his WBO minimumweight title in Mexico, the Philippines was left with only two world champions. Both are in the same division as Donnie Nietes holds the WBO light flyweight title. Gello-ani bit the bullet by forcing a title defense in the country to make sure Casimero has a better shot at retaining his title. /MP