Casimero retains IBF belt

CEBU, Philippines - Filipino champion Johnriel 'Quadro Alas' Casimero easily retained his IBF light flyweight title with a lopsided unanimous decision victory against hometown idol Luis Alberto 'Pan Blanco' Rios yesterday at the Megapolis Convention Center in Panama City,  Panama.

It was not a highly entertaining fight, but Casimero showed more aggressiveness against Rios, who was passive in his attack to the pride of Ormoc City.

In a report by boxingscene.com, Casimero took the early lead in the judges scorecards as he controlled the phase in the early round landing more significant shots. Rios was never able to mount a rally, settling for one punch at a time and oddly clinching after Casimero would finish a combination or even when the titlist came forward.

After 12 rounds of action, the three judges scored 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110 all for Casimero, who kept for the second time the belt he wrested with a 10th round knockout of Luis Alberto Lazarte in their riot-marred bout on the eve of Valentine's Day last year in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In his first defense, the 22-year-old Casimero triumphed by unanimous verdict over the previously unbeaten Mexican warrior Pedro Guevara in August last year in Mexico City.

Casimero now holds an improved 18-2 win-loss record spiked with 10KOs, while Rios suffered his second career loss in his 21 fights.

In the co-main event, Filipino boxing contender John Mark 'Iceman' Apolinario (17-2-3, 4KOs) and his Panamanian archrival Roberto 'La Araña' Vasquez (32-5-2, 22KOs) once again fought to 12-round draw, leaving the interim WBA bantamweight title vacant. (FREEMAN)