Casimero To Make Voluntary Defense Against Salguero

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero will have a voluntary title defense against Mexico’s Felipe Salguero at the Cuneta Astrodome on October 26 in a fight  card promoted by Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.

BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard learned that the IBF had given Casimero permission to have a voluntary title defense and should he win, the Filipino will be forced into a mandatory title defense against the top-ranked contender who, at the moment,  is No. 3 Javier Mendoza since the two top spots are vacant.

Casimero who won the title with a 10th round TKO over Argentina’s Luis Alberto Lazarte on February 10, 2012 in a fight that was marred by a riot in which Casimero and his cornermen including promoter Sammy Gello-ani were hurt by supporters of Lazarte, successfully defended his title with a twelve round split decision over Mexico’s Pedro Guevara on August 4, 2012  in Sinaloa, Mexzico and in his last title defense won a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision over highly touted Luis Alberto Rios last March 16 in Panama.

Salguero who is ranked No. 6 by the IBF dropped a unanimous twelve round decision to WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes of the famed ALA Gym before losing by an 11th round TKO to Luis Alberto Rios in a title eliminator on October 25, 2012.
He then came back with a 5th round TKO over Javier Romano on January 12 this year before scoring a 7th round TKO over Armando Vazquez last August 23.