Make no Bones about it

Former WBA superbantamweight champion Clarence (Bones) Adams took over training WBO bantamweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero in Las Vegas from Nonoy Neri, who flew back home last July, and was the Ormoc City brawler’s chief cornerman when he disposed of Ghanaian challenger Duke Micah in Connecticut two months ago.

Adams wasn’t able to watch super WBA/IBF bantamweight king Naoya Inoue’s knockout win over Australian Jason Moloney last weekend but said he didn’t need to. “I didn’t get to see the fight,” he said. “I believe in my fighter. Casimero will beat Inoue. Casimero is the real deal.” Adams is convinced when and if Casimero faces Inoue, the Filipino will walk all over the Japanese Monster.

“Casimero’s one of the hardest-hitting fighters out there today,” said Adams. “I should know. I’ve held mitts for some of the best. I put on a body shield in the gym and still felt Casimero’s power. He’s the only one who’s been able to do that to me. I guarantee it. You put Inoue or (Guillermo) Rigondeaux or (Luis) Nery in the ring against Casimero and they’re all going down. Casimero’s hard to hit when he puts his mind to it. If he listens to me, works his combinations and stays focused, he’ll knock out anyone you put in front of him.” Casimero said Adams wore the body shield only once in a training session with him and never again. “Ayaw na niya,” recalled Casimero who pounded the shield like a sledgehammer cracking an anvil.

Adams, 46, said Casimero reminds him of Paulie Ayala, the former WBA bantamweight champion who beat him twice on points. “Ayala was tough just like Casimero,” said Adams. “I wouldn’t compare Casimero to Orlando Canizales whom I consider a different animal. I know how tough Filipinos are. I fought (Isagani) Pumar in 1995 and he hit me so hard with one punch, I got cut. That guy had to be one of the hardest hitting fighters I ever faced.” Adams was 18 when he battled Canizales for the IBF bantamweight crown in France in 1993. Canizales broke Adams’ jaw in the third round but Bones fought on until his father/trainer threw in the towel in the 11th when the fracture in his face had caused a grotesque swelling.

Adams, an 8-1 underdog when he dethroned Nestor Garza for the WBA superbantamweight title in 2000, keeps close ties with Filipinos. Super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr. have trained in his Prince Ranch Boxing Gym in Las Vegas. And Adams is married to Millette de la Cruz, a Filipina hair stylist who migrated to New Jersey from Davao when she was 11.

In 2005, Adams and his wife visited Davao on his first and only trip to the Philippines. When the pandemic is over, he’d like to bring his family for a longer visit. The Adams family includes three boys – Achilles Bones, 13, Atreyu Legend, 10 and Azael Midas, 7. Of the kids, Adams said it’s the youngest who has shown an interest in boxing. “He’s the only one who even throws a punch,” said Adams.