Casimero eyes KO win in return to Mexico

JOHNRIEL Casimero has had some bitter memories in Mexico. It was the place where he lost his first world title crown and also his unbeaten slate.

In his return to Mexico after two years, Casimero won’t let history repeat itself as he is gunning for a knockout against Mexican challenger Pedro Guevara.

“If the opportunity comes for a knockout then he will go for the knockout. If a knockout will not come then he will give him a beating,” Casimero’s coach Christopher “Ping-Ping” Tepura told Sun.Star Cebu.

The 22-year-old Casimero is defending his International Boxing Federation light flyweight strap against Guevara on Aug. 4 at the Centro de Convenciones in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.

In 2010, Casimero, who was 20 years old at that time, lost his interim World Boxing Organization light flyweight belt following a razor-thin split decision to Ramon Garcia.

Tepura assured that a different but better Casimero will be fighting this Sunday (RP time), and not the inexperienced one that fought in Mexico two years ago.

“He didn’t have the experience back then. Now he has matured and a lot has changed,” he said.

Guevara is 18-0-1 with 13 knockouts but he hasn’t faced any elite names. Casimero, on the other hand, is 16-2-1 with 10 knockouts and has lost to world champions Garcia and Moruti Mthalane. He has beaten respectable names like Cesar Canchila, Luis Alberto Lazarte and Ardin Diale.

Casimero leaves for Mexico today along with Tepura, his promoter Sammy Gello-ani and Paulo Castillo.

“We had a long training camp and we are confident that we will bring back the crown.”