Teen in world title clash

By Edri K. Aznar



ANOTHER Filipino youngster will have a shot at greatness as 19-year-old undefeated Jhonreil Casimiro will take on Columbian Cesar Canchilla for the interim World Boxing Organization junior flyweight belt on Dec. 12.

SGG first gave 19-year-old Marvin Sonsona a shot at a world title and he won against Jose Lopez. Now, SGG is giving another young boxer the same chance.

The only thing hindering Casimiro’s path to greatness is Canchilla, who used to hold the interim World Boxing Association light flyweight belt.

Canchilla gave world champion Giovanni Segura the first blotch of his record with a 12-round unanimous decision in their first fight last year.

Canchilla was later dethroned from his WBA title after Segura stopped him in the fourth round of their rematch last March.

“He (Casimiro) is a mature fighter. I’m confident that he is ready for a world championship fight,” Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday.

Although Canchilla has an impressive record of 28 wins and two losses with 22 knockouts, Gello-ani is confident his ward will pull off an upset just like what Sonsona did to Lopez last month.

“Casimiro is hungry for a world title. He has the power and the skills to win. Although Canchilla is a former world champion, I’m expecting for an upset,” said Gello-ani.

The Mandaue-based boxer Casimiro is undefeated with 13 wins and seven knockouts.

Just like Sonsona, his world title shot is his first fight outside the Philippines.

Casimiro is ranked No.4 in the WBO while Canchilla is rated second. The winner of the bout will have a chance to fight undefeated WBO junior flyweight titleholder Ivan Calderon.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 27, 2009.