Pinoy road warrior a confirmed great champ

FILE PHOTO – Johnriel Casimero.

THE DISCREPANCY in build, experience and firepower painted an impending punching picnic for the Philippines’ Johnriel Casimero in the first defense of his IBF world flyweight crown in London on Sunday.

Casimero’s British challenger, Charlie Edwards, was tall but too frail to figure in a full-scale war against the battle-tested Filipino who had waged bloody battles in various arenas around the world.

Edwards, 23, was previously unbeaten, but carried a meek record of eight wins, including three knockouts.

Casimero, 26, before last Sunday’s successful title defense, carried a record of 22 wins, 3 losses, 14 KOs.

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Not to worry, Edwards assured hometown fans, claiming Casimero was slow and, therefore, easy to outbox.

Round One: Casimero had a busy start but soon enough turned tentative, often using his jab not to set up, but to grope lightly for range.

Casimero, in fact, was merely being methodical, sharply sniping and sizing up.

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A sure-fire overhead right shook Edwards in the fourth round.

After breaking ice, Casimero, as noted by veteran boxing writer Nick Giongco, “broke down Edwards with crisp combinations, head and body shots that either staggered or frustrated the game and gutsy hometown bet.”

It was all the way down, down, down—and out—for Edwards after that terrible bombardment.

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Edwards did have some bright moments, like in the fifth round, when Casimero suffered an eyebrow cut, caused by a butt. It was the only point when Casimero was threatened.

The eighth and ninth rounds were both for Casimero, who punished his baffled foe with daggers to the body. In the 10th, Casimero unleashed a killer left that sent Edwards tumbling down. Casimero raised both arms. The British challenger beat the count, but referee Steve Gray halted the bout at 1.57 minutes, with the dazed, pressured Edwards unable to defend.

It was Casimero’s eighth conquest on foreign soil.

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Casimero had also reigned as world lightflyweight titleholder a couple of times.

Said the respected boxing expert Dr. Rene Bonsubre, an international ring physician: “Casimero is more about substance than style … He earned his stripes the hard way, fighting in his opponents’ turf.”

Dr. Bonsubre, who has been closely following Casimero’s career, said the Leyte-born champ is not much about publicity.

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Yesterday, there was a report from ringside in London which said Casimero was mobbed for autographs by amazed British fans, most of whom had welcomed him with lusty booing. The same report said promoter Eddie Hearn, together with the triumphant Gennady Golovkin, thanked Casimero for a great treat.

“Golovkin praised Casimero as a great champ with great power,” said the same report.