Dethroned champ Casimero, vows to be back as flyweight

CEBU CITY—I will be back!

Dethroned IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero made that vow Saturday hours before he faced Colombian Mauricio Fuentes at Waterfront Hotel and Casino here.

The 24-year-old Casimero appeared to have quickly put behind him the ignominy of being stripped of his title Friday after he tipped the scale at 113.25 lb during the weigh-in for his scheduled title defense of the 108 lb title Saturday night.

“I regret it a lot because I worked very hard for this belt, and I had to give it up because of the weight,” said Casimero  during the prefight press conference.

The title has been declared vacant but Fuentes can win it with a victory in the 12-round fight that will be telecast today starting at 8 a.m. over TV5 Sports.

“My mind says I can (shed pounds) but my body says otherwise,” Casimero said.

His manager-promoter Sammy Gello-ani said that until last Wednesday, Casimero was still at 115 lb. “That’s when we knew he can’t possibly make it by weigh-in Saturday.”

The 5-foot-4 Casimero, according to Gello-ani, has the height and body structure fit for a flyweight (112 lb) where they plan to pursue in his new title drive.

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