Casimero, the Boy Scout

Cebu Boxing has its second world champion in IBF light flyweight champ Johnriel Casimero who won his second world title belt over Argentina’s Luis Lazarte in that now infamous event that has put a black eye on Argentina boxing. Casimero now joins the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria and Donnie Nietes as the country’s current world champions. But did you know Casimero before he won this championship? Did you even know that he won a first interim world title belt earlier in his career? Also abroad? Did you know that he trains right here in Cebu?

 This is what makes so exciting and interesting. We normally know the biggest names such as a Pacquiao, Donaire, Viloria and Nietes, and how they rose to become world champions. Beneath them are other boxers who suddenly come out of nowhere to score big wins. This is where the likes of Casimero, Marvin Sonsona and Drian Francisco come in. They all won interim or legitimate world championships but faded away after heart-breaking losses. Casimero has since made a comeback and is now back on top. And he earned the world title the hard way: through sheer will, perseverance, true hunger and always being ready.

Casimero’s way to the top is one of the “101 ways” to win a world championship. Most boxing fans are more familiar with the more popular paths to a world title: Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire with their promoter Top Rank of Bob Arum. The ALA Boys rely on the Pinoy Pride series and ALA Promotions. Viloria has Solar Sports as his chief backer that stages his world title fights in Manila. And Casimero? He doesn’t have any of these, believe it or not. But he does have the international boxing connection named Sampson Lewkowicz under the local management of Sammy Gello-ani of SGG Promotions.

No Top Rank. No Pinoy Pride. No Solar. No problem. They carry out the simple “Boy Scout” strategy of being always ready to fight for a world title when a call comes. Talent and exposure are no longer issues. Casimero had already won the interim WBO light flyweight title overseas before and had also ventured into South Africa and Mexico in unsuccessful attempts to win a world title. The down part for him locally is that he didn’t have the kind of backing that his other more popular world champions have. Thus, he isn’t seen too much on TV and the news. The only people who know him are the serious boxing fans who follow our country’s best boxers closely. But today, everyone knows Casimero, albeit not in the manner with which we had wanted him to get there.

The irony of his rise to overnight popularity was that this came about due to the post-fight riot and mess that took place after he won the title in Argentina. The general public now knows who he is, thanks to YouTube and all the news reports about the event. He has made appearances on TV and has even been presented to the Congress. Not bad, di ba? It sure looks like getting kicked, punched, beaten up and slammed with a chair has its fruits. I now wonder if Casimero would be getting the same attention that he’s getting now if this mess didn’t happen.

But life moves on and Casimero had better settle down asap from all this momentary “high.” He must remember that the Ulises Solis, the regular IBF world champion, is on an “injury leave” and isn’t expected to give up the title just like that. I’m certain that Lewkowicz and SGG are now working on his first title defense before he faces Solis in a title unification fight later in the year. There are talks of a defense in the Philippines, and we just hope that this time, they get the same kind of support that the TV networks and corporate sponsors give to the likes of Pinoy Pride and Viloria.

For his part, Casimero must forget all the hoopla and excitement, and go back to the gym as soon as he has recovered from the fight, trauma and the death of his brother. If you take a close look at his career, you can say that he’s one lucky fighter who has been given all the opportunities to win a world title. He is 2-2 in world title fights having won over Lazarte and Cesar Canchila, but bowing to Ramon Garcia and Moruti Mthalane in a span of three years (2009-2012). No other Pinoy boxer has this kind of cracks at a world title. He can’t afford to blow all chances that come his way. All the more, there’s an urgent need to continue improving his craft, and to be more than just ready when the bigger more important fights come calling.

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Time-out: Happy birthday to Chuchay Verches. >>> You can reach me at [email protected]