Esteves to referee Casimero-Rios title fight

THE International Boxing Federation (IBF) has named the ring officials for the IBF junior flyweight title bout between defending champion Johnriel Casimero of the Philippines and challenger Luis Alberto “Pan Blanco” Ríos of Panama.

The third man inside the ring will be referee Benjy Esteves Jr. of New York City while the three judges responsible for scoring the 12-round battle are Levi Martínez of New Mexico, Nelson Vázquez of Puerto Rico and Joe García of Arizona.

Casimero vs. Rios will be held on March 16 at the Megapolis Convention Center, Hard Rock Hotel in Panama City, Panama.

Last January, Esteves officiated the WBO featherweight title bout which saw Miguel Angel ‘Mikey’ Garcia dethrone champion Orlando Salido by eighth round technical decision.

Last October 20, 2012, he was the third man in the ring when Danny Garcia stopped Erik Morales in four rounds to retain his WBC and WBA jr.welterweight titles.

This will be the third straight fight that Casimero will wage overseas. Last February 2012, he beat Luis Alberto Lazarte for the vacant title in Argentina by TKO in the 10th round. He made his first title defense six months later in Mexico, winning by split decision against Pedro Guevara. /correspondent rene bonsubre jr