Former IBF Junior Flyweight and WBO Light Flyweight Interim Champion, Johnriel Casimero is no stranger to fighting away from him, but the man known as “Quadro Alas” has another ace up his sleeve, in his IBF Flyweight Championship match against Amnat Ruenroeng, Saturday night at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
In an interview Tiebreaker Times had with Casimero after the weigh-ins held at Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel, Casimero did not have a problem with the weight-cut. “Mas mataas ang timbang ko ngayon, pero wala naman naging problema. Maganda ang training camp ko kaya ‘di ako nag struggle. Di rin maaapektuhan speed and power ko pagdating ng laban,” the resident of Cebu told us.
Moreover, “Quadro Alas” is confident that he will bring home another world title for the country. “Prediction ko sa laban na ito knockout, ma-knoknockout ko siya,” he confidently said. He added that he was doing this for the fans and his family.
His manager, Sammy Gello-ani, further added that Casimero is at the point of his career where the venue does not really matter to him, may it be in the Philippines or abroad. “There’s no longer a feeling of pressure kay Johnriel,” his manager told us. “He always wins sa hometown ng kalaban niya.” As a testament to this, in the 23 fights the Filipino knockout artist has fought in, seven bouts were competed with him having at his opponent’s hometown. Casimero won five of those seven fights.
Furthermore, Gello-ani added that fight fans should expect fireworks in the come fight night. “Both Johnriel and Amnat [Ruenroeng] have the capability to go for a knockout. Once magengage sila, sigurado may tutumba.”
Finally, the Head Trainer of Casimero, Jhun Agrabio, told us that the camp is happy with the referee and judges picked for the fight. “We have no complains about the officials chosen,” he closed.
Will the Philippines have another world champion in its stable, or will the Thai continue his dominant run? Stay tuned for our coverage later tonight.
The IBF World Flyweight Championship match pitting challenger, Johnriel Casimero, and champion, Amnat Ruenroeng, is set for tonight. In addition, Denver Cuello makes his return as he takes on Boy Tanto. The card is promoted by Ekkarat Chaichotchuang of Jimmy Boxing Promotions, and matchmaking duties are made by Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing LLC.
