Casimero to defend interim title in August!
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Earlier today it was revealed that WBO "interim" Bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero (27-4, 18) would be making his first defense on August 24th, as he takes on Mexican challenger Cesar Ramirez (18-3, 11) in the Philippines, at a yet to be announced venue.
Casimero won the title earlier this year, when he stopped Ricardo Espinoza Franco in a thrilling 12 round bout, stopping the Mexican in the final round of their ultra-competitive contest in Carson, California. Sadly whilst the bout was a sensational one for the handful of fans in the venue, it wasn't given any TV time and the only video available was amateur footage, though that footage did show a brilliant fight that deserved so much more attention than it got.
The win over Franco saw Casimero take a world title at a third weight, having previously won belts at Light Flyweight and Flyweight, and in theory make himself the leading contender for South African fighter Zolani Tete (28-3, 21), who is the WBO's regular champion albeit a champion currently on the shelf following an injury that forced him to withdraw from the WBSS. Sadly it appears a bout with Tete will have to wait, and it's unclear when the "Last Born" will return to the ring.
Whilst Casimero's win over Franco was a thriller it's hard to imagine the same sort of drama here against Ramirez, who has gotten a shot off very little. Coming in Ramirez is on a 6 fight winning run, though has been facing very weak opposition since losing a wide decision against Ryan Burnett back in July 2016. His competition really shouldn't have put him in the mix for a title fight, even an interim title fight, but as we all know boxing can reward the undeserving. Other than Burnett there's only 1 other fight of note on Ramirez's record, and that is Alejandro Gonzalez Jr who stopped him in 2 rounds way back in 2012.
We expect to hear more about this bout, and the under-card for it, in the coming weeks.
Casimero won the title earlier this year, when he stopped Ricardo Espinoza Franco in a thrilling 12 round bout, stopping the Mexican in the final round of their ultra-competitive contest in Carson, California. Sadly whilst the bout was a sensational one for the handful of fans in the venue, it wasn't given any TV time and the only video available was amateur footage, though that footage did show a brilliant fight that deserved so much more attention than it got.
The win over Franco saw Casimero take a world title at a third weight, having previously won belts at Light Flyweight and Flyweight, and in theory make himself the leading contender for South African fighter Zolani Tete (28-3, 21), who is the WBO's regular champion albeit a champion currently on the shelf following an injury that forced him to withdraw from the WBSS. Sadly it appears a bout with Tete will have to wait, and it's unclear when the "Last Born" will return to the ring.
Whilst Casimero's win over Franco was a thriller it's hard to imagine the same sort of drama here against Ramirez, who has gotten a shot off very little. Coming in Ramirez is on a 6 fight winning run, though has been facing very weak opposition since losing a wide decision against Ryan Burnett back in July 2016. His competition really shouldn't have put him in the mix for a title fight, even an interim title fight, but as we all know boxing can reward the undeserving. Other than Burnett there's only 1 other fight of note on Ramirez's record, and that is Alejandro Gonzalez Jr who stopped him in 2 rounds way back in 2012.
We expect to hear more about this bout, and the under-card for it, in the coming weeks.