JOHNRIEL Casimero’s courage and resolve will be tested once again when he defends his IBF junior flyweight world title for the first time against undefeated Mexican Pedro Guevara in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico on Aug. 5.
In an article posted in the Spanish language boxing website notifight.com, the 21 year-old Guevara (18W-0L-1D, 13 KOs) said that “this is what I want, this is what makes me feel good.
There are days that I do not believe that I will fight for a world championship and especially here at home. We are ready to fight for 12 rounds. I consider Filipino Johnriel Casimero a tough fight. We are very positive, we are ready. We have worked for this, this title can be mine.”
The 22 year old Casimero (16W-2L, 10 KOs) is one of the four remaining world boxing champions from the Philippines. Manny Pacquiao, Ana Julaton and Sonny Boy Jaro lost their belts this year while Brian Viloria, Donnie Nietes and Nonito Donaire successfully retained theirs.
Casimero won the interim title last February in Mar del Plata, Argentina by stopping local boy Luis Lazarte in round 10 only to be assaulted by an angry partisan crowd.
He was declared the regular world junior flyweight champion by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) less than two weeks ago after the champion in recess, Ulises Solis of Mexico, was declared unfit to resume his training due to medical reasons after suffering a broken jaw in a street fight.
The fight card is billed “Rage in Mazatlan.” /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr