A tale of 2 opponents

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

DESPITE the punches, kicks and chairs that they absorbed last Saturday in the hands of a ravenous Argentinean mob, Johnreil Casimero and his team, coach Christopher “Pingping” Tepura and promoter Sammy Gello-ani, won’t file for legal action against their attackers but are just thankful to have gotten out of Argentina in one piece.

“Our concern was to go home, celebrate and enjoy the moment of winning the title,” said Gello-ani, who arrived in Cebu City yesterday. “God was with as at that moment.”

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The 22-year-old Casimero captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight crown after a 10th round technical knockout over hometown hero Luis Alberto Lazarte in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where a riot ensued after the fight.

Gello-ani recalled the crowd becoming hostile in the seventh round when an Argentinean spectator went near Casimero’s corner and threatened one of his corner men, Sean Gibbons.

Cups and bottles started to fly in the 10th round as Casimero was finishing off Lazarte. The crowd erupted into a riot and started throwing different debris, including chairs, after Casimero went up the ropes to celebrate his emphatic win. Some hooligans even went up to the ring and attacked and landed a few shots on Casimero and his team.

“It was so hard because after the fight, there was another opponent. All we could think of was how to save ourselves,” said Casimero of the chilling experience. “When I fell out of the ring, I was being kicked. But I saw a small opening under the ring and hid there. The Argentineans were big and couldn’t fit under there.”

The Games and Amusement Board sent a letter to the Argentinean boxing commission yesterday, requesting an investigation of the incident that happened to Casimero and his team.

“It’s okay for me to fight in Argentina but I won’t ever step in Mar del Plata ever again,” said Casimero.

According to reports, the IBF only declared Casimero as an interim champion despite his fight with the 40-year-old Lazarte earlier declared a fight for the vacant title, because Ulises Solis was unable to defend his crown. However, the IBF has given Solis until Oct. 31 to face Casimero for the regular title or else the Filipino will be declared the regular champion.

Casimero, who entered The Ring Magazine light flyweight ratings at No. 10, is prepared for a possible war with Solis.