Casimero vows to be ‘Monster Buster’

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino WBO bantamweight champ John Riel Casimero is determined to make the most of his opportunity to reach global stardom, eyeing a smashing victory against unbeaten Japanese WBA and IBF kingpin Naoya Inoue in their unification duel on April 25 in Las Vegas.

“Matagal ko nang pangarap ang ganito (fighting for the unified belt in the boxing mecca),“ Casimero said during yesterday’s press conference announcing the explosive showdown at Mandalay Bay.

Casimero (29-4, 20 KOs) was thankful that “the Monster” (19-0, 16 KOs) gave him the chance to unify the belts, recalling his frustrations back in the flyweight division where he couldn’t get fellow champ Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez to a unification fight.

Casimero expressed confidence he could be the “Monster Buster” to Inoue, who in his previous fight was pushed to the limit by 36-year-old Nonito Donaire Jr. before winning by unanimous decision last November in Japan.

“Magandang laban ito, parehong malalakas. May isang babagsak dito,” said Casimero. “Pag may pagkakataon, kahit one, two rounds, kung magbigay siya ng opening sa atin, tapusin talaga; yun din naman ang hinahanap ng tao ang pabagsakin siya.”

He cited how Inoue was staggered by Donaire, who just couldn’t put away the Japanese champ, and vowed to finish what The Filipino Flash couldn’t.