Unbeaten Pinoys emerge in world boxing

MANILA, Philippines - There are six undefeated Filipino rated contenders on the verge of becoming world boxing champions and following in the footsteps of ring icon Manny Pacquiao.

The latest to emerge from the woodwork is Ormoc’s Johnriel Casimero, a 19-year-old slugger who knocked out Colombian Cesar Canchila at 1:40 of the 11th round to claim the vacant WBO interim lightflyweight title at the Denis Mendoza National Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua, last Saturday.

The others are Ciso (Kid Terrible) Morales, “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona, Milan (Milenyo) Melindo, Jundy (Pretty Boy) Maraon and Drian (Gintong Kamao) Francisco.

Casimero’s unexpected win was reminiscent of Sonsona’s upset over Jose (Carita) Lopez for the WBO superflyweight crown in Ontario last September. Like Casimero, Sonsona is 19. Filipino promoter Samson Gello-ani arranged for both teenagers to figure in their first overseas bouts through international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz.

Casimero, nicknamed “Quadro Alas,” was sensational in his first outing abroad. He took on an experienced veteran who once beat WBA lightflyweight champion Giovanni Segura and put on a convincing performance. Canchila was floored in the third, sixth and ninth rounds before referee Jose Hiram Rivera stopped it in the 11th. In all, the Colombian suffered five knockdowns, including two in the fateful 11th.

Now, Casimero, ranked No. 4 by the WBO, wants a crack at unbeaten WBO lightflyweight champion Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico. Calderon, 34, is a crafty stylist with a 33-0-1 record, including six KOs, and was once held to a technical draw by Filipino Rodel Mayol.

“This is a Christmas wish come true for Casimero,” said Gello-ani who accompanied the fighter to Managua with trainer Nonito Donaire Sr., Pingping Tepora and James Osorio. “Canchila was no easy opponent but with Casimero’s power and heart, we knew he had a big chance of winning.”

Casimero and his travelling party arrive home tomorrow early morning on Philippine Airlines flight No. 103 from Managua via Los Angeles.

Casimero turned pro in 2007 and showed his mettle by halting Thailand’s Liempetch Sor Veerapol for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific lightflyweight crown in Cebu last year.

When the offer came to fight in Managua, Gello-ani didn’t hesitate to sign up Casimero. It was the same gutfeel that Gello-ani had in agreeing to match Sonsona against Lopez. Gello-ani was confident that despite his inexperience and youth, Casimero would be up to the task.

What was impressive in Casimero’s showing was his sharp focus. He wasn’t fazed by the hoopla surrounding the big fight card which was held in honor of the late Alexis Arguello and drew a crowd of 20,000 and a slew of prominent personalities, including WBO president Paco Valcarcel, Pacquiao’s Argentinian cutman Miguel Diaz, Nicaragua tourism minister Mario Salinas and promoter Felix (Tutico) Zavala.

Casimero stuck to his fight plan, methodically mowed down Canchila and executed the coup de grace in the late going. Canchila had no antidote for Casimero’s awesome power.

Five other unbeaten Filipino fighters are waiting in the wings for title shots next year.

First in line is Bohol’s Morales who takes on WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico at the Las Vegas Hilton on Feb. 13. Morales, 21, has a 14-0 record, with eight KOs, and is ranked No. 9 superbantamweight by the WBO. Like Casimero and Sonsona, he is managed by Gello-ani and Lewkowicz.

Next, Sonsona will attempt to win a second world crown, tentatively in early March against Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in Puerto Rico. Sonsona gave up his WBO superflyweight title on the scales then fought Alejandro Hernandez to a 12-round draw in Ontario last November. His record is 14-0-1, with 12 KOs. Another in the queue is Cagayan de Oro’s Melindo, rated No. 1 by the WBO, No. 3 by the IBF and WBA and No. 5 by the WBC. The ALA Boxing Gym stalwart battles American Anthony (Baby Assassin) Villareal for the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight title in Cebu on Jan. 14. Melindo, 21, has a record of 19-0, with five KOs.

Two other undefeated Filipinos in line for title cracks are Maraon and Francisco.

Maraon, 24, is rated No. 5 by the WBO and has a record of 14-0-1, with 11 KOs. The 5-6 southpaw is the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion and fights out of North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol’s Braveheart stable.

Francisco, 27, is ranked No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by the WBO and No. 8 by the IBF. Last October, he halted Panama’s Roberto Vasquez for the WBA International superflyweight diadem at the Cuneta Astrodome to raise his record to 18-0-1, with 14 KOs.