IBF Light Flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero (18-2-11 KO) has successfully defended his IBF light flyweight crown over Panamanian challenger Luis Alberto Rios at the latter’s hometown in Megapolis Convention Center in Panama City.
The final round of Casimero – Rios IBF Light Flyweight Championship
Casimero was impressive right from the start until the final bell rang. He clearly dominated the challenger Rios who basically back pedaled for his safety on most of the rounds in order to escape Casimero’s punches. He was also booed by his own hometown crowd who were rooting early for him because of his lack of motivation to engage with the Filipino champ resulting to snooze-fest rounds.
Casimero overwhelmed Rios with a unanimous decision with scorecards 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110 for the Ormoc City native, successfully defending his IBF crown, for his second defense since getting it in the infamous boxing riot at Argentina involving the currently banned Luis Alberto Lazarte.
As said during his previous statements, Casimero is now eyeing to unify all the belts in the light flyweight and become the undisputed champion in the division. According to some boxing reports, Casimero is hoping to get an inch closer to his goal by crafting a bout with fellow light fly belt holder and currently WBA champion Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua.
The undefeated Roman Gonzalez (34-0-27 KO), who goes by the moniker “El Chocolito,” is coming off an impressive unanimous win over Juan Francisco Estrada late last year for his fifth consecutive title defense. As evident in his record, Gonzalez is a knock out artist and one of the dangerous fighters in the 108 division. The idea of Casimero sharing the ring with the WBA champ is a borderline courageous and dangerous at the same time since the Nicaraguan is clearly no pushover. And instead of coming home with the WBA belt clinging next to his championship belt, Casimero might rather see his IBF belt hanging over Gonzalez’s shoulders. Needless to say, the Filipino champ must be serious in his training and his camp must devise a fool-proof plan to negate and win over the Nicaraguan champ Gonzalez.
And if ever the fight does not materialize, Casimero’s camp is planning to take on a third title defense for the IBF belt, and they want to set it up in our local shores this time since Casimero’s last three fights have been held away from home.
