JOHNRIEL Casimero will be returning to fight in the Philippines in a non-title super bantamweight bout, organized by Treasure Boxing Promotions, in cooperation with Johnny Elorde Management International on May 13 at the Okada Resort Hotel in Parañaque City.
Casimero will take on Fillipus Nghitumbwa of Namibia in the main event, highlighting six other exciting cards, led by the supporting main event bout between Filipino Weljon Mindoro and reigning World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific super welterweight champion Japanese Takeshi Inoue.
“It’s good to be back fighting in Philippine soil after four years,” said Casimero, who last fought in Manila in August of 2019, when he knocked out Mexican Cesar Ramirez in the 10th round for the vacant WBO interim bantamweight belt. “I am very excited to fight in front of my fellow Filipinos.”
Fight partners Johnny Elorde, son of the legendary boxer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, and former world champion Masayuki Ito of Japan of Treasure Boxing, believe the encounter could be a stepping stone for the 34-year-old warrior from Ormoc City to become a fourth division world titleholder in the very near future.
“Johnriel [Casimero] is an exciting fighter, a world-class athlete with great charisma, so this is another good opportunity for him. This fight is also a huge treat to all the Filipino boxing fans who want to watch him fight again,” Elorde said.
Casimero is coming off a second-round knockout win against Japanese Ryo Akaho in his debut fight as a super bantamweight last December in Incheon, South Korea.
In other scheduled fights, flyweight Vince Paras will take on Japanese Ayumi Hanada, while Carlo Demecillo battles Japanese Jun Ikegawa in a super bantamweight clash, even as Giemel Magramo collides with Thai fighter Phissanu Chimsunthorn in a super flyweight duel.
Arnel Baconaje takes on fellow Filipino Jhon Gemino for the vacant Philippine super featherweight belt and John Vincent Pangga faces Jonathan Francisco in bantamweight six-round bout.