Casimero stripped of IBF title after failing to make weight

IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino bet Johnriel Casimero was stripped of his IBF light flyweight belt after failing to make weight for his upcoming world title bout against Colombia’s Mauricio Fuentes on Saturday at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu.

Casimero tipped the scales at 113.25 lbs, five pounds over the 108-pound limit, during the official weigh-in Friday at The Event Centre in SM City-Cebu.

With the 24-year-old Casimero (19-2, 11 KOs) losing his crown, it leaves the country with just two world titleholders in Donnie Nietes, the current WBO junior flyweight champion, and Manny Pacquiao, who reclaimed the WBO welterweight belt recently.

The fight should’ve been Casimero’s fourth title defense but with the Ormoc City-based fighter removed of his title, a win won’t be enough for him to keep his crown, which will be vacant.

A win by Fuentes (16-2, 10 KOs), on the other hand, would make him the new world champion.