Amnat Ruenroeng: record, next fight and profile →
A former IBF flyweight champion from Thailand and a French-Cameroonian middleweight contender are the most prominent professional boxers attempting to win berths in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics during the final qualifying tournament.
By Cliff Rold - Every weight class gets its turn under the spotlight. For some, it’s hard to turn the spotlight off. Try to find a lull period at welterweight that lasted more than a year in the last few decades. It might not always have the best fighters but it does often enough that it is hard to avert one’s gaze. Heavyweight is always one...
Johnriel Casimero gained sweet revenge in the best possible way, scoring a 4th round knockout of Amnat Ruenroeng to win a portion of the flyweight crown Wednesday evening in Beijing, China. A bout that threatened to become as ugly as the first fight quickly changed course when Casimero - a former junior flyweight titlist - twice dropped the previously unbeaten Ruenroeng. The latter of the two knockdowns came courtesy of a left hook to the body, crumpling the long-reigning titlist from Thailand to bring an end to the bout - and his reign - at 2:10 of round four.
The actual fight itself isn't for another day, yet the rematch between Amnat Ruenroeng and Johnriel Casimero is already mired in controversy. Both fighters made weight ahead of their flyweight title fight sequel, each coming in right at the 112-pound flyweight divisional limit. Confusion came prior to what actually served as the official weigh-in, when each boxer was led to believe they were well above the limit.
Well-known referee Tony Weeks will be the third man in the ring when former IBF light flyweight champion John Reil Casimero tries to avenge his loss to flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand in Bejing, China on March 25.
The team of IBF flyweight challenger John Reil Casimero, the former light flyweight champion never hid the fact that they were all out for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the recent presidential elections.
Former IBF light flyweight champion John Riel Casimero is out for revenge in his rematch with Thai champion Amnat Ruenroeng to whom he lost a hugely controversial decision in a foul-invested title fight where referee Larry Doggett warned Ruenroeng five times for holding and wrestling Casimero to the canvas but failed to penalize the champion.
For better or for worse, Amnat Ruenroeng and Johnriel Casimero will meet again in the ring. A deal has in place for the past several weeks for their flyweight title fight rematch, only to have to wait on a date and location. Both aspects are now set, as BoxingScene.com has learned the bout will take place May 25 in Beijing, China as part of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) annual convention.
By Cliff Rold - This Saturday, two of boxing's ten best heavyweights will be in action in the same city, both competing for belts on the same card. Deontay Wilder and Czar Glazkov won't be fighting each other because boxing is silly that way. There might be a less impolitic way to put it but why bother? The sport works hard to make a joke of itself too often
Former BF 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.