Casimero weighs in 5 pounds heavy, loses world title on scales

MANILA, Philippines – To win the IBF junior flyweight championship, Johnriel Casimero had to travel to Argentina, knock out the hometown favorite Luis Lazarte and survive an ugly riot where fans stormed the ring and attacked them with weapons.

To lose the belt, all Casimero had to do was step on the scales weighing close to two divisions above the 108 pound weight class.

Johnriel Casimero (19-2, 11 knockouts) of Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines lost his world championship 24 hours before his defense against Colombian Mauricio Fuentes on Saturday night at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines when he tipped the scales at 113.25. Officials at the weigh-in confirm that Casimero made no additional effort to shed the pounds and forfeited the title on the spot.

The fight, which is Casimero’s second consecutive in the Philippines, was to be his fourth title defense after spending much of his career circling the globe for fights.

Fuentes (16-2, 10 knockouts) checked in at the 108 pound limit for his first world title fight. The 24-year-old hasn’t lost in five years since dropping decisions to future title challengers Jorle Estrada and Luis Dela Rosa in 2009. 

The fight will go on with the title being on the line for Fuentes only. Should Casimero win the belt will be made vacant. The fight will be aired on delay by TV5 beginning at 1PM on Sunday, Sunday, May 4.

The Philippines now has just two world champions, with Manny Pacquiao holding the WBO welterweight title and Donnie Nietes of Bacolod City holding the WBO junior flyweight title.

Unbeaten junior lightweight prospect Harmonito Dela Torre (12-0, 7 KOs) of General Santos City, Philippines weighed in at 131 pounds, while Gadwin Tubigon (10-8-2, 5 KOs) weighed 130. Dela Torre has made his name internationally in recent fights, competing on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Brandon Rios last year in Macau.

– Rappler.com