FORMER International Boxing Federation light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero, who lost in his bid to win the IBF flyweight title against Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng in an ugly, foul-marred fight at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok last June 27, gets a chance to avenge that defeat in a mandatory title defense by the IBF champion.
Promoter Sammy Gello-ani, who handles Casimero in partnership with internationally known promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, told The Standard/boxingmirror.com that “negotiations on the fight date will begin next week. I don’t mind if the fight is in Thailand, but Johnreil will have to train well.”
Upset over the performance of referee Larry Doggett, who tolerated Ruenroeng’s patently foul tactics, including numerous headlocks resorted to by the Thai, Sammy Gello-ani formally wrote to IBF president Darryl Peoples and Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker.
Gello-ani protested the failure of the said referee to stop the persistent foul tactics of the Thai champion, which emboldened him to continue. He also protested the fact that the American referee did nothing to stop the champion from repeatedly sending Casimero to the canvas in takedowns, constantly holding and grabbing for long spells and catching him in a headlock and around the throat several times.
He also pointed out that Doggett failed to call a clear knockdown in Round 3, when Casimero caught Ruenroeng with a perfectly-timed left hook, with the groggy champion allowed time to fix his loose laces that helped him recover. Doggett also ruled a knockdown in the previous round when Ruenrong connected with a much less, but cleaner punch and dropped an off-balanced Casimero.
The two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist had previously defeated seven Filipinos, including Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation champion Rocky Fuentes, who was also a victim of the same grabbing, holding and takedown tactics in a losing effort.
“We will be very careful about the officials assigned to the fight,” Gello-ani told The Standard/boxingmirror.com, “and would object to some assignments” if they prejudiced Casimero.
Casimero, who returned home from Las Vegas for the Christmas and New Year holidays, has been doing some light training and will step up his preparation after the New Year.