Casimero back as world champ

MANILA, Philippines - Two years after losing his IBF light-flyweight title on the scales, Johnriel Casimero of the Philippines is back as world champion following a big knockout win over erstwhile undefeated Thai Anmat Ruenrueng at the Diamond Court in Beijing, China the other night.

The 26-year-old Casimero, who hails from Ormoc City, floored Ruenrueng twice in the fourth round, the first with a short head blow. The end came in the 2:10 mark after the Filipino landed a hard shot to the right side of the body.

Ruenrueng, who defeated Casimero on points when they first met in June last year in Bangkok, fell backwards after taking the body punch and was not able to continue. He was down on the canvas as referee Tony Weeks reached the count of 10.

In their first fight, Ruenrueng threw all the dirty tricks there is in boxing against Casimero, and got away with a unanimous decision. This time, Casimero did not allow that to happen.

Ruenrueng was ahead on all three scorecards when the stunning knockout came.

Casimero was crowned the new IBF flyweight champion, and joined countrymen Donnie Nietes (WBO light-flyweight champion) and Nonito Donaire Jr. (WBO super-bantamweight) on top of the boxing world.

Nietes will defend his crown against Mexico’s Raul Garcia on May 28 in Bacolod City while Donaire just retained his title by stopping Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak in the third round in Cebu City a month ago.

Casimero’s co-managers, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing, and Sammy Gello-ani of Cebu, were so ecstatic after the victory that the former immediately called on reigning WBC flyweight and pound-for-pound champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez of Nicaragua.

“John Riel has gotten this (Ruenrueng) out of the way now,” Lewkowicz told Philboxing.com.

“My congratulations to him and to his people in the Philippines. He is now the third current world champion and is very proud to represent them. Next, we want to unify against Chocolatito. Tell him we are ready any time,” added Lewkowicz.

“They say no one wants to fight Gonzalez. We do. John Riel is right here and ready to unify the championships. My phone is always on. Let’s make it happen,” he added.

Casimero is not afraid to take on anybody, anywhere.

In 2012, he flew to Argentina to face Luis Zarate. He won by knockout and clinched the IBF interim light-flyweight title at the Club Once Unidos in Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires. A riot took place after the fight, and irate fans attacked Casimero and his team, including trainer Jhun Agrabio.

Police intervened and had to shield the Filipinos on the way out of the venue. Shortly after the win, Casimero was declared the champion due to the inactivity of then titlist Ulysses Solis.

Casimero defended the title three times, against two Mexicans and a Panamanian, but lost the crown when he failed to make weight against Mauricio Fuentes of Colombia on May 3, 2014 in Cebu City. He knocked the Colombian out in the first round then moved up in weight.