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Fight postponements to blame for Casimero missing weight, says promoter

Ryan Songalia

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The promoter of Johnriel Casimero says that fight postponements – not a lack of work ethic – were to blame for him missing weight

SCALED DOWN. Johnriel Casimero lost his world title on the scales after weighing more than 5 pounds over the limit. Photo from TV5 press release

MANILA, Philippines – The promoter of Johnriel Casimero says that fight postponements – not a lack of work ethic – were to blame for him missing weight and dropping the IBF junior flyweight title on the scales on Friday afternoon.

Sammy Gello-ani, whose SGG Promotions handles the 24-year-old boxer from Ormoc City, Leyte, Philippines, says that his ward had numerous interruptions to his training that had affected his ability to make weight, resulting in him coming in five pounds above the 108-pound limit for his fight with Mauricio Fuentes (16-2, 10 knockouts) of Colombia Saturday night, May 3 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu. 

“We tried to have him make the weight; he was in the sauna since yesterday but the water was not coming out of his body,” Gello-ani tells Rappler. “His mind was still fresh to make the weight but his body was not cooperating.”

Should Casimero defeat Fuentes, the title belt will be declared vacant. The belt will only be on the line for Fuentes, who weighed in at the limit of 108.

In addition Casimero had to give 10 percent of his purse to Fuentes. Gello-ani did not divulge the amount of Casimero’s purse but said the amount was minimal as the fight was hastily thrown together so Casimero could make his mandatory defense and avoid being stripped of the belt. 

“I think the problem is that they were too confident about the weight, but they cannot catch up,” said Gello-ani. “I think because when I arrived here (on Wednesday) I was checking him and they said his weight is no problem, but at the time his weight was 115.”

Another factor may have been in play, however. Casimero was initially told that his fight with Fuentes would take place in January, but the finalized date was slated for March 29.

That date was quickly scuttled when a sponsor backed out. To save the title, Casimero’s manager Pio Castillo stepped in to front the money for the event, which will be televised by TV5 on Sunday, May 4 at 1PM.

The promoter had broken the news of the new date to this writer at the Elorde Awards on March 25, which would’ve given Casimero a little over five weeks to train.

If the fight had not pushed through, Casimero would’ve been stripped for failing to face his mandatory challenger in a timely manner. An IBF representative confirmed this news to Rappler. 

“That was the last day the IBF had approved, I think the situation has affected his training.”

Casimero (19-2, 11 knockouts) won the title in February of 2012, knocking out Luis Lazarte in the tenth round. Afterwards, a riot broke out with fans storming the ring and throwing objects at the Filipino contingent, spurring the Philippine government to threaten Argentina with a diplomatic protest.

The Fuentes fight was to be Casimero’s fourth title defense, and his second consecutive fight in the Philippines. 

“Of course I feel sorry, I have to apologize to the boxing fans, I have high hopes for Casimero,” said Gello-ani. “We got the title the hard way in Argentina, in fact my life was at stake.”

Gello-ani says that he is confident that Casimero will receive a title shot at flyweight (112 pounds) in the near future, and that their team will begin negotiations with the New Jersey-based IBF to arrange one after the Fuentes fight.

The IBF flyweight title is held by Thai Amnat Ruenroeng, who won the title in January with a decision victory over Filipino contender Rocky Fuentes. – Rappler.com

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