Casimero to fight for IBF crown

CEBU, Philippines - Ormoc City's pride Johnriel ‘Quadro Alas’ Casimero (15-2, 9KOs) gets another crack at world title as he battles Luis Alberto Lazarte (40-10, 18KOs) of Argentina for the vacant IBF light flyweight championship on February 10 at the Club Once Unidos in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

SGG Sports Promotions president Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani confirmed in a press conference yesterday at Sunburst Restaurant that Casimero will now gun for the world crown after the IBF decided to vacate the throne as reigning titlist Ulises Solis sustained a broken jaw and couldn't be able to defend his belt.

Solis needs ample time to recover from the injury he suffered during an altercation with WBC light middleweight champion Saul Alvarez at a local bar in Mexico City last year.

This will be Casimero’s second attempt to be a world champion. During his first try, he lost by fifth round TKO to IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.

“In his fight with Mthalane, kulang gyud ang bata sa preparation pero karon straight iyang training ug akong nakita nga nindot ang iyang kondisyon. Salig gyud ko 80 percent nga makuha na ni Johnriel ang world title,” said Gello-ani. "Veteran gyud ni si Lazarte, pero makita nato nga kusug si Casimero and I think youth will prevail."

Casimero underwent a rigid training regimen at the Omega Boxing Gym where he has completed over a hundred rounds of sparring including against the undefeated ALA Boxing Gym star Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo.

In his previous ring appearance in October last year at the Hoops Dome, the Ormoc City-native Casimero stopped Roemart ‘TI Yamagata’ Sentillas in the first round, signifying that he is indeed back on the right track. (FREEMAN)