Minus ponytail, Casimero hits scale just right

MANILA, Philippines — Johnriel Casimero flirted with disaster yesterday when he tipped the scales a shade over the limit of 118 pounds for the defense of his interim WBO bantamweight title against Mexico’s Cesar Ramirez tonight at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

Casimero, who has had a colorful battle with the scales in the past, weighed 118.8 pounds on his first try while his Mexican opponent came in at a comfortable 117.6 pounds.

The former IBF lightflyweight and flyweight champion from Ormoc City was given two hours to lose the excess weight or be stripped of the crown.

Casimero did everything he could. He left the weigh-in venue and went back to his hotel room, took a hot shower to let some steam off, wrapped himself in a comforter and had a haircut. On his second attempt, stripped naked, he made it at exactly 118 pounds.

“His brother cut his ponytail off. He now has a new hairdo and a new look. He lost his bun but he kept his belt,”  international matchmaker Sean Gibbons told The STAR yesterday.

“That (ponytail) was the final point-two (pounds). Everything is okay now. It wasn’t Johnriel Casimero without the drama,” added the president of MP Promotions.

With the official weigh-in done and over with, here comes the hard part for Casimero – facing a gritty Mexican fighter for a scheduled 12-rounder.

Casimero, 30, has a ring record of 27-4 with 18 knockouts while Ramirez, 31, is at 18-3 with 11 knockouts. 

If he is successful tonight, Casimero will get another crack at a world title against reigning WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete of South Africa, a fight that Gibbons said may take place in December.

For that fight to happen, Casimero must take care of business tonight.