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Casimero overwhelming pick to tame Micah, retain crown

Roy Luarca

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Casimero overwhelming pick to tame Micah, retain crown

Team Casimero

Ormoc City pride Johnriel Casimero enjoys the edge in experience over challenger Duke Micah

Angry and hungry, Johnriel Casimero vows to dispose of challenger Duke Micah in a hurry when they dispute the World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown in the US on Saturday, September 26 (Sunday, September 27, Philippine time).

Casimero is out to impress the international audience in his first pay per view appearance while Micah wants to make the most out of his first world title crack in a loaded Premier Boxing Champion Showtime card at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Both appeared in prime shape during the official weigh-in on Friday, with Casimero tipping the scales at 117.78 pounds and Micah checking in at 117.75.

Casimero (29-4 with 20 knockouts) got irked when Top Rank Promotions scrapped his April 25 unification showdown with Naoya Inoue, forcing MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions president Sean Gibbons to tap the unbeaten Micah (24-0, 19 knockouts) instead.

Micah’s higher knockout rate (79.2% to 60.6 %) is deceiving though as the 2012 London Olympian has only stopped 2 of his last 6 opponents. Meaning, as the level of opposition rose, Micah’s effectivity wanes. So unlike when he started his career with 13 straight knockouts.

The 31-year-old Casimero, on the other hand, has won his last 5 via knockout, including a 3-round demolition of the touted Zolani Tete in Birmingham, England, indicating more accurate power punches.

Though he’s a three-division world champion, Casimero is still pining for the recognition and adulation being enjoyed by fellow titlists Inoue, Mexican Luis Nery and Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux

That’s why the pride of Ormoc City is gunning for a knockout over Micah, who in his last 8-round fight against Janiel Rivera needed to get up from the floor in the third round before trouncing his foe by unanimous decision.

Casimero, who believes he’s the current lord of 118-pounders, is shorter by 3 inches to the 5-foot-7 Micah, but thrives on the situation. Casimero gave up 5 inches vertically and 8 inches in reach to Tete, yet the South African was unable to tag him.

Casimero also enjoys the edge in experience, having gone through 219 rounds in a 13-year career against the Ghanaian’s 128, and quality of opponents, having figured in 9 title fights against Micah’s none.

No wonder, betting sites have listed Casimero as the overwhelming favorite, going as high as -1600 to Micah’s +625. Simply put, a $1,600 bet on Casimero will earn just $100 if he wins while a $100 bet on Micah will become $625 if he succeeds.

Gibbons has tapped former World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion Clarence “Bones” Adams, who owns the gym where Casimero trained in Las Vegas, to man Casimero’s corner with Stephen Lunas. Mike Vaz will be the cutman.

Noted trainer and Havoc boxing apparel owner Andre Rozier will be Micah’s chief second in his bid to end Ghana’s two-year boxing title drought and become his country’s 10th world champion. – Rappler.com

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