by Ronnie Nathanielsz

International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight interim champion Johnriel Casimero will figure in a non-title ten round bout against Colombia’s Mauricio Fuentes at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu on June 30 before his mandatory title fight against Ulises "Archie" Solis.

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani informed BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that while the IBF had given Casimero a chance to choose his opponent for his interim title defense they had “problems with the opponent so we have made a decision to put him in a non-title fight just to keep him in shape.”

Fuentes is 22 years old and has a record of 12-2 with 7 knockouts while Casimero who is also 22 years old has a record of 16-2 with 10 knockouts.

Gello-ani said that after the non-title fight Casimero will have to make a mandatory defense of the title he won by a 10th round TKO  against Argentina’s Luis Lazarte last February 10 in Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires that was marred by an ugly post-fight riot which resulted in the suspension of Lazarte by the IBF.

The 30 year old veteran Solis has a record of 34-2-3 with 21 knockouts.

One of his losses was when he was knocked out in the 11th round by Brian Viloria at the Araneta Coliseum on April 19, 2009. Viloria has since moved up in weight and is the reigning WBO flyweight champion.

Solis regained the title with a twelve round split decision win over Lazarte in a rematch on April 30, 2011 after their first encounter ended in a majority draw.

Tags: Archie Solis , Johnreil Casimero