Newly-crowned champ Casimero ready for defense

AFTER just recently being crowned as the regular International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight titleholder, Johnriel Casimero is going to defend his title in enemy territory two weeks from now.

Casimero is defending his world title against NABF light flyweight champion and IBF rated No.4 Pedro Guevara at the Centro de Convenciones in the challenger’s hometown in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico on Aug.4.

Casimero was declared the regular IBF champion because Ulises Solis was still unfit to train for three to four months after undergoing an operation on his jaw last March 29, thus he won’t be able to defend his crown on the IBF’s deadline on Oct. 30.

Casimero, 16-2 with 10 knockouts, is up against a relatively unknown but unbeaten fighter in Guevara.

Guevara is a current NABF champion and once held the World Boxing Council Silver light flyweight strap.

He is 18-0-1 with 13 knockouts but hasn’t faced some top tier opponents except for Mario Rodriguez, who once fought for the World Boxing Organization mini-flyweight title against Donnie Nietes. Guevara is off a unanimous decision win over Jose Guadalupe Martinez, who once fought up-and-comer Milan Melindo.

The 22-year-old Casimero won the interim IBF belt last Feb. 2 in Argentina against veteran former world titlist Luis Alberto Lazarte. Casimero stopped Lazarte in the 10th round and caused a riot from the disgruntled Argentinean hooligans.