Cebuano boxer Johnriel Casimero succeeded in his second defense of the WBO bantamweight title over veteran Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux on Saturday, August 14 (Sunday, August 15, Manila time) at the Dignity Health Sports Complex in Carson City, but many boxing fans in the south frowned on his antics and seeming cockiness in and outside the ring.

The 31-year-old Casimero, a native of Ormoc City, banked on his aggressiveness in the entire 12 rounds to eke out a split decision win over the constantly running and boring Rigondeaux, whose marathon strategy allowed him to last the distance at 40 years old.

But many Visayan-speaking boxing fans frowned on his extremely flamboyant antics and oftentimes below-the-belt trash-talking innuendos.

“Yes, he won. Pero di lang ko ganahan sa iya kay tikalon kaayo (I just don’t like him because of his cockiness),” said Cagayan de Oro’s gym rat Norberto Balbutin.

“Isa lang ka pildi niya ini mawala na sa sirkulasyon (Just one defeat and he’d be out for good),” warned boxing instructor Jay Buot.

Local businessman-sportsman Fred Limbaga said while Casimero is both proud and vulgar, “I also admire his resolve as a fighter kay naa man sab gyud ikabuga (he walks the talk).” 

In Bukidnon province, boxing aficionado Lemuel Canete said Casimero was “strong and dangerous” that Rigondeaux seemed content that he survived a possible knockout by just running the whole fight.

Cancan Navales, a former banker and a boxing fan, opined that Casimero’s handlers were merely projecting a “bad boy” persona for the boxer because famous Filipino boxers like Manny Pacquiao and Carlo Paalam already have good-boy images.

Before the fight, Casimero taunted Rigondeaux, saying that if he was billed as “The Jackal” in Cuba, he would be known as “El Jakol” (The Jerk) in the Philippines. 

For his next two likely big fights, Casimero belittled Japan’s undefeated world champion Naoya Inoue before giving fellow Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire the dirty finger. The two had a spat after Casimero disrespected Donaire’s wife Rachel in his social media posts.

“But Casimero is a good man. He’s only making a show. You know, boxing to him is also like show business,” said the boxer’s one-time neighbor in Ormoc, Jonas Juntilla.

“He’s a good neighbor and pakisama (gets along with people). We’re very proud of his latest triumph,” Juntilla told Rappler. – Rappler.com