Casimero confident this time world title will be his

I am 100 percent ready.”

This is the confident announcement made by former WBO Asia Pacific lightflyweight champion Johnriel “Four Aces” Casimero as he braces for a career-defining world title fight against Argentinian Luis Alberto Lazarte on Feb. 10.

The battle will be  for the vacant IBF lightflyweight title.

Casimero (15-2, 9 KOs), whose promising career took a nosedive last year when he lost two consecutive fights, vowed to seek redemption as he promised to knock out the 40-year-old Argentinian Lazarte who sports a fight record of 49-10-2, with 18 KOs.

Casimero’s promoter, Samson Gello-ani of the SGG Promotions said he said he is confident of his ward’s chances of finally snaring a world crown.

“My main reason for giving Casimero this title fight is because he has already proven his mettle for tough battles when he defeated Cesar Canchila for the WBO Interim light flyweight title in Nicaragua. I know he can deliver, for me he is very prepared for this,” said an equally confident Gello-ani.

Casimero failed in his first bid to annex a world title after he lost to IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane via a mysterious fifth round in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Next month’s bout against Lazarte was originally for the interim championship but the IBF later decided to make it a title fight after vacating the throne when titleholder Ulises Solis failed to defend the belt. Solis was at that time suffering from a broken jaw in a street altercation with WBC light middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.

Casimero declared that he has trained for four months after his comeback victory over Filipino Roemart Sentillas last October at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City. He said he already has a strategy to beat Lazarte.

“I have watched videos of Lazarte’s fights,” Casimero said. “I have a plan to beat him.”

At the Omega Gym here in Cebu City, Casimero said he has already sparred around a hundred rounds against Milan “El Metodico” Melindo and other noted boxers.

Casimero will fly to Argentina on Feb. 5.

Meanwhile, Casimero’s stablemate Siso “Kid Terrible” Morales will return to ring action on hostile grounds when he invades Tijuana, Mexico for a WBC regional title bout against Mexican Oscar Gonzales on Feb. 11 a day after Casimero’s fight.

After his draw against Gregorio Torres last August, Morales went back here to heal a deep cut in his right eyebrow which prevented him from training.

Casimero and Gello-ani were in attendance, together with WBO Asia-Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo, for yesterday’s opening of the WBO Kids Drug Free Philippines basketball tournament in Greenhills Subdivision, Mandaue City.

Casimero will turn 22 on Feb. 13 and he said winning a world title would an excellent gift not just for himself but for the entire nation as well