Fly champ Casimero wants Zhou as next foe

GIVEN a choice, Filipino world boxing champion Johnriel Casimero would like to face Chinese superstar Zou Shimming as his next opponent.

Casimero (with 23 wins, three losses with 15 knockouts) announced that he would prefer the Chinese fighter over super flyweight mainstays and compatriots Brian Viloria and Donnie Nietes.

“If we negotiate by February, we can hold the fight in May. Right now, Zou Shiming, looms as the opponent. He is the No. 3 contender because the top two slots are vacant,” said his manager, Sammy Gelo-Ani.

For the meantime, Gelo-Ani said Casimero is not being positioned against Nicaraguan sensation Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez yet.

“Gonzalez will come later. Let him defend his title first and be the kingpin of the flyweight division,” said Gelo-Ani of the pound-for-pound king (46-0-0 with 38 KOs), who is the current WBC super flyweight titlist.

Casimero’s camp appeared as guest during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate, fresh from his 10th round knockout triumph over Charlie Edwards of Britain at the O2 Arena in London.

The Ormoc City-born Cebu City resident came into the spotlight after his 2012 fight against volatile Argentinian Luis Alberto Lazarte caused a major free-for-all in Buenos Aires. Casimero won that fight via TKO.