Casimero unfazed by hostile crowd

MANILA, Philippines - IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero of Ormoc City isn’t disappointed that he won’t stake his title against Panamanian mandatory challenger Luis Alberto Rios here even as his Uruguay representative Sampson Lewkowicz won the purse bid for the match because fighting overseas cranks him up.

Casimero, 22, will make the second defense of his crown at the Megapolis Convention Center in Panama City on March 16. The bout would’ve been scheduled in Manila or Cebu but Casimero’s manager Sammy Gello-ani couldn’t land a TV deal to cover the combined $132,000 (P5.3 Million) purse for both fighters.

Lewkowicz submitted a bid of $132,000 for the right to promote the contest, easily beating Rios’ offer of $99,000. Gello-ani said the first option was to stage the fight in Manila or Cebu but with no takers, Lewkowicz agreed to co-promote it with Panamanian partner Carlos Gonzalez.

Casimero is one of four reigning Filipino world champions today. The others are WBO lightflyweight titlist Donnie Nietes, WBO flyweight ruler Brian Viloria and WBO superbantamweight king Nonito Donaire, Jr. Casimero took the interim IBF lightflyweight diadem via a 10th round stoppage of Luis Lazarte in Argentina last year. He was later elevated to the throne when champion Ulises Solis couldn’t defend the crown within the deadline because of injuries suffered in a streetbrawl. In his first defense last August, Casimero repulsed Pedro Guevara on a split 12-round decision in Mexico.

“Right now, Casimero is doing light training and sparring four to six rounds just to stay in shape,” said Gello-ani in a phone call from Cebu yesterday. “We’ll start heavy training next week. We plan to do all our training in Cebu then fly out 10 days before the fight. What I notice about Casimero is his maturity. He’s more settled now. He’s focused. He knows this is his chance to earn big money. His goal is to make 10 title defenses.”

Fighting on hostile territory isn’t new to Casimero. “He won his best fights abroad,” said Gello-ani. “In fact, he prefers to fight abroad because there’s less pressure. It’s normal for him to fight overseas, nothing to get excited about. He likes the atmosphere.”

Gello-ani said he couldn’t sign a TV deal for Casimero’s defense. “Maybe, it’s a blessing in disguise,” he said. “Sampson was able to negotiate a fight in the undercard for (John Mark) Apolinario for the interim WBA bantamweight title. The purse bid didn’t cover the undercard so now, two Filipinos will be in the card and Apolinario gets a chance to win an interim WBA championship. It’s a great opportunity for both Casimero and Apolinario. It’s the best option available after not being able to bring the fight to Manila or Cebu. Besides, Sampson is the co-promoter so he’ll protect us. Sampson has a special place in his heart for Filipinos.”

Gello-ani said Rios is a dangerous opponent and Casimero will be ready for a difficult grind. “Rios is a credible challenger,” said Gello-ani. “He’ll be fighting in his home country so he’ll enjoy crowd support. I just don’t think he has fought high-caliber opponents like Casimero. I’m confident Casimero will manage to retain his title.”

Rios, 22, has an 18-1-1 record, with 13 KOs. He has won his last seven outings, all by KO, since losing to Luis Carillo on a fourth round technical knockout due to a shoulder injury in 2010. Rios avenged the defeat to Carillo by scoring a fifth round stoppage in a rematch last April. A fighter who gave Rios difficulty was Panama’s Carlos Melo. Rios barely beat Melo by split decision in 2009 and they fought to a split draw in a rematch a year later. Melo was outpointed by Filipino Milan Melindo in Cebu in 2008 and lost to another Filipino Eriberto Gejon four years earlier. Rios has never fought outside of Panama.

Casimero, nearly two inches taller than Rios at 5-4, broke into the world ratings after halting Cesar Cancilla in the 11th round in Nicaragua in 2009. He lost a split decision to Ramon Garcia in a bid for the WBO lightflyweight crown in Mexico in 2010 and yielded to IBF flyweight champion Maruti Mthalane in a bizarre ending in Johannesburg a year later. Casimero complained that he couldn’t breathe and surrendered to Mthalane in a daze. The high altitude of South Africa was blamed for Casimero’s sudden collapse. He has since rebounded from the back-to-back losses to win three in a row, raising his record to 17-2, including 10 KOs.

Apolinario, 23, is from Sarangani and has a 17-2-2 record, with 4 KOs. He’ll battle Panama’s Roberto Vasquez in the undercard. Last November, they fought to a majority 12-round draw in Argentina. Vasquez, 29, is a former WBA lightflyweight champion with a 32-5-1 record, including 22 KOs. In 2009, Vasquez came to Manila only to be stopped by Drian Francisco in the 10th round at the Cuneta Astrodome. Apolinario is unbeaten in his last seven fights.