Casimero set for world title bout against McJoe Arroyo

CEBU, Philippines – Former IBF flyweight champion Johnreil 'Cuadro Alas' Casimero gets another world title shot, this time in a higher division, when he challenges McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico for the IBF super flyweight belt on December 18 in a yet determined venue in Las Vegas. This was announced by Sampson Lewkowicz,  Casimero's US promoter, during a wide-ranging talk with a group of Cebuano journalists last Saturday afternoon at Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Casimero (21-3-0, 13KO) lost his light flyweight title on the scales when he failed to make weight during his title defense against Mauricio Fuentes of Colombia on May 5, 2014. Casimero later defeated Fuentes via first  round knockout. Casimero went up in weight in his next fight and defeated Armando Santos of Mexico in a flyweight battle on December 13, 2014. Casimero then challenged IBF flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng but lost in an ugly fight against the Thai champion last June 27.

Arroyo (17-0-0, 8KO) won the vacant IBF flyweight title by defeating Arthur Villanueva of the Philippines last July 18. Casimero will be the third Filipino fighter he goes up against in succession. He previously fought and won over Mark Anthony Geraldo last December 20 in Puerto Rico for the title eliminator.

Casimero was previously penciled to fight McJoe Arroyo's brother McWilliams for the right to again challenge Thai champ Ruenroeng but that fight is now moot after this latest development. Casimero is now in Las Vegas preparing for the fight against McJoe Arroyo under trainer Jun Agrabio.

Lewkowicz is highly confident that Casimero will become a champion again. “No doubt,” Lewkowicz said.

Meanwhile, Lewkowicz's Filipino partner Samson Gello-ani gave an update on the progress of the cases filed against him and Casimero by Casimero's manager Pio Castillo of Omega Boxing Gym for breach of management contract filed at the Philippine Games and Amusement Board (GAB) as well as at the regional trial court (RTC) in Cebu.

Gello-ani said they had a clarificatory hearing at the GAB office on September 22 and the case was “disposed of immediately” by the GAB because of lack of legal basis although, according to Gello-ani, they still have to receive a copy of the GAB resolution on the case.

As far the RTC case is concerned, Gello-ani said they had responded to the complaint and are now awaiting the ruling of the court. Gello-ani said the biggest issue on the court case is jurisdiction because under Presidential Decree 871, all professional sports should be under the supervision and regulation by the GAB. — Dong Secuya of Philboxing.com