Casimero to defend title on Aug. 4

IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero will fight abroad anew as he defends his crown against Pedro Guevara of Mexico in the latter’s home base at the Centro de Convenciones in Sinaloa, Mexico this Aug. 4.

Casimero, who has a 16-2 (win-loss) 10-KO record, will defend his title for the first time against Guevara (18-0-1, 13KOs).

SGG Promotions president Samson Gello-ani announced earlier that Casimero will defend his title here in the country after their painful experience last February in Argentina, when his ward won the title against Argentinian Luis Alberto Lazarte.

After that bout, Casimero and his team, including Gello-ani, were attacked by an angry Argentinian crowd.

Gello-ani wanted a title-defense here to avoid another incident like that but financial problems pushed team Casimero to fight in hostile grounds again.

“I would have loved to hold it here in Cebu,” said Gello-ani. “But there was not enough budget for a world title fight like this.”

Instead, the Filipino will have to risk fighting abroad but his team is confident that nothing will go wrong.

Joining Casimero in Mexico anew will be Christopher Tepora and International Pharmaceutical Inc.’s Paolo Castillo.

“We don’t know what awaits us there but I know that we are taking risks for this fight,” said Gello-ani. “This is what I call a calculated risk. We already have a worst-case scenario for this kind of situations.”

According to Gello-ani, Casimero is in great shape and well conditioned to defend his first world title.

Gello-ani said Casimero has to knock his opponent out if they want a sure win. “Lisod na kung ikaw mo away sa lain nga lugar kay pwede mahimo nila ilang gusto pero pwede man mi mopili ug judges para fair pud namo,” Gello-ani added.

Casimero’s team will depart July 30 to Los Angeles before heading to Sinaloa, Mexico