Young Casimero preps for title fight

By Edri K. Aznar

ALL systems are go for Jhonreil Casimero’s world title fight on Dec. 19 in Nicaragua as his and his team’s visa was approved yesterday.

“Team Casimero secured a visa today. All the plans are already a go,” SGG Promotions promoter Sammy Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

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Casimero is up against former world champion Cesar Canchila for the interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight title.

Although an underdog with less than half the fight experience of Canchila (28-22 KOs), Gello-ani is optimistic that the undefeated Casimero (13-0 7 KOs) will mirror the feat of 19-year-old Marvin Sonsona.

“I always believe in fighters who have power and talent. And if you prepare them really well, then they can win a world title. I’m confident that Casimero will win the world title,” said Gello-ani.

Sonsona captured the WBO super flyweight title after an upset unanimous decision victory over veteran champion Jose Lopez last September in Canada.
Sonsona’s victory came just in his 14th fight and first outside of the Philippines.

Just like the young champion, it will be Casimero’s first fight outside the country.

“There has been good development in his training. I see something in his progress,” said Gello-ani, who handles Casimero’s career.

Casimero has been training at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City where he has been given much needed pointers by Nonito Donaire Sr.

Casimero and his team will be leaving for the US in the last week of November. They will continue training there in Donaire’s Gym in San Francisco before flying to Nicaragua two weeks before the fight.

Casimero hasn’t fought outside the Philippines and hasn’t been in a world title battle unlike his Colombian opponent.

However, Gello-ani doesn’t see this as a setback for the 19-year-old up-and-coming Cebuano fighter.

“That’s why we are training in Nicaragua so that he will be at ease. It’s one way of making him comfortable,” he said.

Casimero will be training in the same gym in Nicaragua where undefeated World Boxing Association mini-flyweight champion Roman Gonzales trains.

Casimero last fought on May 28 and scored an eighth-round knockout against Ardin Diale for the WBO Asia-Pacific light flyweight title.