Zorro Sultan of Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte (left), and John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero of Ormoc City, Leyte, pose after a press conference at the St. Mark Hotel.
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
Pinoy vs Pinoy encounter in coming Pinoy Pride 42
Boxing fans will be in for a treat when two-division world champion Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero and IBF inter-continental super flyweight champion Jonas “Zorro” Sultan collide for a world title eliminator in one of the triple-header main event of the Pinoy Pride 42: Clash For Glory at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino this Saturday.
Filipino fight fans are used to watching Filipino boxers take on foreign fighters, but this match is a rare showdown between two talented Filipino boxers seeking supremacy in their weight division.
Making the fight even more special is the fact that the winner will challenge Filipino IBF world super flyweight king Gerwin Ancajas (27-1-1,18KOs), which will also be an all-Filipino showdown for a world title.
The last time two Filipino boxers fought for a world title was in 1925 when Pancho Villa defended his world flyweight title against Clever Sencio. This means when Ancajas faces either Casimero or Sultan, it will be the first time in 92 years that two Filipinos will be fighting for a world title.
Casimero’s manager, Samson Gello-ani, said that Filipino boxers facing each other will soon be a regular thing in local boxing scene since there are a lot of talents coming out.
“It is happening in Mexico. Before, it was not yet the time. But now is the perfect time to see this fight. I must say it is a history to be remembered,” said Gello-ani in a presser yesterday at the Saint Mark Hotel.
The 27-year-old Casimero (24-3-0, 15KOs), a former IBF light flyweight and flyweight world champion, is seeking to become a three-division world champion while Sultan wants to become a world champion.
“I had another fight scheduled before this mandatory fight against Sultan came in. I was preparing to fight Roman Gonzales but he got knocked out,” said Casimero. “ Now that I am set to fight Sultan I will do my best to win this fight. I respect him (Sultan) and I will show my respect by giving him a great fight. Let’s see what happens inside the ring because I have prepared very hard for this fight.”
Casimero feels confident he can win against Sultan (13-3-0,9KOs).
For 25-year-old Sultan of Zamboanga del Norte, his edge over the more experienced Casimero is his talent.
“I have the skills and the confidence to win this fight. But I won’t be complacent in the ring. I badly want to win this fight and go for 12 rounds against him,” said Sultan.