RP’s Casimero wrests WBO interim title with upset win

Johnreil Casimero, a little known prospect from Cebu, hacked out a stunning 11th round TKO of Columbian Cesar Canchila to wrest the WBO interim light flyweight title at the Estadio Nacional Dennis Martinez in Managua, Nicaragua Sunday (Manila time). According to website PhilBoxing.Com, the Ormoc-born, Mandaue-based Casimero dropped Canchila down five times – one each in the third, sixth and ninth rounds, and twice in the 11th – before the referee decided to put a stop to the carnage. The 19-year-old Casimero, the reigning WBO Asia Pacific boss, thus hiked his immaculate ring record to 14-0 with eight knockouts while Canchila, the former WBA interim light flyweight titlist, slipped to 28-3 with 22 knockouts. More importantly, the win placed Casimero into the roster of Filipinos holding a major world title, led of course by pound-for-pound king and WBO welterweight boss Manny Pacquiao. WBO vice president Leon Manoncillo, who has helped virtual unknowns from Asia like Casimero vault into stardom, described the new champ as “another gem from the Philippines." Casimero, who had Nonito Donaire Sr and Pingping Tepura at his corner, fought in the main event of the major boxing event held in memory of the late Managua Mayor and boxing champ Alexis "El Flaco Explosivo" Arguello. - GMANews.TV