Quo Vadis Quadro?

CEBU, Philippines - I was hoping to watch Johnriel Casimero defend his IBF world light flyweight championship for the first time in Cebu (and win in a dominating way). It was supposed to be Cebu’s first world title fight for the year with the Donnie Nietes fight being staged in Manila next week. But talk about great timing not to make weight. Fighting in Cebu as a world champion for the first time, Casimero weighed in five pounds over the light flyweight limit of 108 pounds on Friday. He was even over the weight limit of 112 pounds for the flyweight division. He was set for a fight at the super flyweight division (115 pounds). When I heard about it, all I could ask was why in Cebu on your home turf?

So what gives? Some have said Casimero has outgrown the weight class. Some have said he can still make the weight but didn’t train and work hard to hit it. Some said it was a case of the various changes of the fight date that affected his approach to making the weight.

Some said his body is still developing and growing. Some said this, some said that. Whatever! You can say anything you want. The point is that he missed the weight and has been stripped of his world title, leaving only Nietes and Pacquiao as the country’s only world champions (we pray that Nietes keeps his title next week). It’s really sad that Casimero had to miss the weight on home soil. He had made the weight for the past four title fights, including that big win in Argentina when he won the title. There were talks at his last fight that he would move up to the flyweight division since he could barely make the cut-off of 108 pounds.

While we empathize with his struggles to make weight, we also ask why his managers had to go on with this fight, knowing fully well that he was having difficulty making weight. Note that five pounds over the limit isn’t a “normal” overweight statistic. Boxers are usually over the limit by one or two pounds but five? He might as well move up two weight classes to the super flyweight division (115 pounds).

 And this leads me now to ask why the fight was staged in the first place. If it’s confirmed that Casimero has had difficulty making weight, I’m sure he wasn’t the only person aware of this. It would’ve been more noble or classier to let go off the title voluntarily, then ask the IBF that “Quadro Alas” be included in the ratings of the flyweight division. Instead, boxing fans are left in a state of confusion and wonder.

As a fan, one wants to watch a Cebu-based boxer defend his crown. He plans to cheer for him, greet him and help lift his confidence. And then be proud of his achievements. I’m afraid that won’t happen over the weekend, will it? For the boxing aficionado, this was a perfect opportunity for Casimero to build his brand and increase his stock in the minds of the boxing community as he isn’t as popular as the other Pinoy world champs and contenders like Pacquiao, Nietes, Nonito Donaire, Genesis Servania and others. It also would’ve been a good chance for Casimero’s promoters to turn Casimero into a revenue generating phenomenon. But alas (no pun intended), none of this is going to take place, at least this weekend.

But life must go on. As a consolation, Casimero can refer to Manny Pacquiao who also lost his world flyweight title on the weighing scale in 1999, then bounced back to reach even greater heights. The Pacman jumped from the 112 pound division straight to the super bantamweight class (122 pounds), skipping the super flyweight (115) and bantamweight (118) divisions.

We all know he also won titles at 126, 130, 135, 140, 147 and 154 pounds. For Casimero, it’s back to the drawing boards and to restart his career at either the 112 or 115 pound divisions. But has got to make a decision and make a commitment to making the limit for the new weight class. Otherwise, he’ll end up being a laughing stock among boxers. I’m sure Sammy Gello-ani can strike a deal for a title fight, but this isn’t going to happen overnight. As a consuelo, I hope Casimero beat up Mauricio Fuentes in a dominating win last night so that he regains his confidence and the support of boxing fans. I also hope that boxing fans weren’t discouraged by the overweight issue and still made the effort to watch him fight.

After all, he was still a world champ as of Friday morning.

Casimero now has to move on, pick up the pieces and get his career back on track asap. He’s still young, and can win a second world championship. He won’t get too many breaks in his career so he better be ready for another Argentina to call him into action. Good luck Quadro Alas!

oOo

Time-out: Sign up for the Milo-sponsored BEST Basketball Clinic. May 12-17, 2014 at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Mango Avenue Campus. For details, go to the FB page BEST Center Sports – Cebu. >>> You can reach me at [email protected].