INQUIRER Sports

JOHNRIEL Casimero of the Omega Boxing Gym of Cebu made the 108 lb. weight limit during official weigh-in and will face Colombian fighter Cesar Canchila for the the WBO Interim World Lightflyweight Championship in Managua, Nicaragua today.

Canchila (28W-2 L, 22 KO?s) also weighed in at 108 lbs. He previously won the WBA version of the title by unanimous decision against Giovanni Segura of Mexico in 2008 but lost to Segura in a rematch March of this year. Last July, he won his last fight by 5th round TKO against Carlos Luis Campos.

Casimero won the WBO Asia-Pacific title in Talisay City on October 2008 with a 5th round TKO over Liempetch Sor Veerapol of Thailand. In his first defense last May 2009 at the Cebu Coliseum, he won by 8th round knockout over Arden Diale and is undefeated in 13 fights with 7 KOs.

A few months ago, Casimero signed a promotional contract with Sampson Boxing LLC of Florida, USA.

The fight will be held at the Estadio Nacional Dennis Martinez and will headline a special major boxing event in Nicaragua in memory of Alexis Arguello. This event fulfills the wish of the late great Nicaraguan triple crown boxing legend who wants Nicaragua to host a big boxing event.