Bittersweet: Casimero loses IBF title but scores first round TKO win over Fuentes

Despite losing his International Boxing Federation (IBF) World junior flyweight title due to weight issues, Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero bounced back from that demoralizing setback by pulling off a first-round technical knockout (TKO) victory over Mauricio Fuentes of Colombia last Saturday night in the main event of the Pinoy Knockout at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Casimero was stripped of his IBF junior flyweight belt on Friday for failing to make the weight limit of 108 pounds. Because of that development, the IBF junior flyweight crown was declared vacant and the fight became a non-title bout.
Still, Casimero fought like a lot was on the line. The Ormoc City-native Casimero wasted no time as he started aggressive from the opening bell and floored Fuentes with an uppercut.
The Colombian was able to beat referee Gerard White’s count but he was knocked down again with another Casimero uppercut after a flurry of combinations.
Fuentes again beat the count but finally fell at the 2:59 mark of the first round after a lethal right hook to the head from Casimero.
“I did not expect to win easily against him. I expected a tougher fight,” said Casimero, who improved to 20-2 (win-loss) with 12 knockout wins.
The win was a fitting farewell for Casimero from the junior flyweight division. He is expected to move up to the 112-pound division or the flyweight division.
Casimero said he wants to fight Mexican WBA and WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada next. “I can fight him and I am confident that I can win over him,” Casimero said.
Estrada knocked out Filipino Richie Mepranum to defend his two titles last April 26 in Sonora, Mexico.
In the undercards, General Santos City’s Harmonito dela Torre (13-0, 8KOs) remained undefeated and snatched the WBF Super featherweight title from Gadwin Tubigon via a fourth round TKO.
Jessie Cris Rosales won over Anthony Sabalde via unanimous decision to grab the WBO Youth Asia Pacific Featherweight title.
Jack ‘Golden Boy’ Tepora won his first title over Joash Aparicio of Bukidnon via a 10th round TKO. Tepora remained unbeaten and captured the WBF Asia Pacific Super bantamweight title.
Rey Labao of SGG Stable scored a vicious fifth-round TKO over Rodel Wenceslao while Joey Canoy scored a unanimous decision victory over Mark Anthony Florida. Both Jessie Espinas and Jimboy Haya won by unanimous decision against Philip Jun Pronco and Carlo Demecillo, respectively.