NEWLY crowned IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero together with trainer Cristopher “Pingping” Tepora and Promoter Sammy Gello-ani arrived yesterday to an overwhelming show of support at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
Casimero annexed the vacant crown with a 10th-round stoppage of Luis Alberto Lazarte of Argentina last Saturday.
That victory however, took on a hostile turn when Casimero, Tepora and Gello-ani as well as the American referee were attacked by irate Argentinian fans.
Yesterday, Team Casimero retold their ordeal in Argentina where they were mauled in a full-scale ring riot.
“I was stepped on and being kicked when I fell down trying to avoid the mob,” Casimero said. “I fell out of the ring and rolled under it.”
Tepora who sported a cut on his chin after the incident, said that they were trying to find Casimero in the melee. Gello-ani and Casimero agreed that it was best not to retaliate to avoid making things worse.
Casimero was greeted with banners by his Omega gym stablemates and was taken on a motorcade that paraded him around the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu before the convoy arrived for the presscon at Baseline Restaurant.
During the presscon which was also attended by Jun Pe Castillo, James Osorio and Tito dela Merced of IPI Phramaceuticals, the trio once again told their harrowing experience.
CASIMERO’S IBF BELT
TO ARRIVE LATE THIS WEEK
Meanwhile, International boxing promoter Sampson Lewkowicz will personally hand over to Casimero his belt anytime this week here in Cebu.
The IBF has stated that Casimero’s belt will be an interim title and the injured Ulises Solis of Mexico will have until October to fight him. If Solis does not fight Casimero, then the IBF will recognize the latter as the regular champion.
Gello-ani however, said that they have the option to stage a title defense against another boxer other than Solis in June and they plan to have it here in the Philippines.
“Solis is the champion in recess, he can’t fight because he is injured, I don’t believe he can fight in June,” Gello-ani said. “But, be it June or October, we are ready for him.”
Casimero said he is ready for Solis, who had two close verdicts against Lazarte.
“I know that Casimero has matured a lot because I have been managing him for a long time. I know that there is still a lot more in store in him (Casimero),” said Gello-ani.
Casimero is scheduled to go home to his hometown in Ormoc, Leyte today.
Meanwhile, Rolando Mendoza of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) read a letter during the presscon from GAB Commisioner Muhamad Aquil Tamano addressed to Osvaldo Rafael Bisbal, the president of the Argentine Boxing Commission.
The letter requested Argentine boxing authorities to conduct an investigation on the incident, the people involved and lapses in security during the riot that injured the three Filipinos. /correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr and Dale G. Rosal