By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WBO Asia Pacific junior flyweight champion Johnreil Casimiro put on one of his best performances in his young career to score an 8th round stoppage of tough Ardin Diale who is ranked No.4 in the Philippines in a tactical battle at the Cebu Coliseum.

Casimiro who turned pro just two years ago showed remarkable maturity against Diale who didn’t have too much power unlike the champion who used his right to bludgeon Diale en route to  the 8th round knockout.

Casimiro first dropped Diale with a right hook and then put him away f or the full count at 1:42 of the 8th round with a vicious shot to the body.

With the win the undefeated  Casimiro who fights out of the Omega boxing stable in Cebu improved his record to 13-0 with 7 knockouts while Diale dropped to 11-5-1 with 1 knockout.

Both fighters were coming off unanimous decision wins with Casimiro beating Allan Banada last May 8, 2009 in Naga, Cebu while Diale defeated Arman Casa last January 17 in Binangonan, Rizal.

In the opening bout of the Thai-Philippines showdown, stylish young southpaw Petch Kokiet Gym who was undefeated in six fights suffered his first loss in a patently bad decision against Jason Egera who was coming off a stunning 3rd round TKO against promising, undefeated  Jundy “Pretty Boy” Maraon of the Braveheart Boxing gym of vice governor Manny Pinol.

Petch Kokietgym who is the reigning WBC Youth flyweight champion replaced stable-mate and recent world title challenger Pramuansak Posuwan who was forced to pull-out with flu.

Petch used his height and reach advantage in telling fashion to clear outbox Egera and pile up points in most of the eight rounds although Egera did connect with the harder punches which were however few and far between.

To the consternation of the television panel which included veteran boxing man Moy Lainez as well as the Kokiet Group executives from Thailand and even WBO Asia-Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo, Egera won by an inexplicable  split decision.

Judge Salven Lagumbay scored the fight for Egera 77-75 and was joined by Noel Flores who turned in the same scorecard in a glaring hometown decision while judge Arnel Pasion scored it for Petch Kokietgym 77-75 which effectively salvaged some respect from the Thais.

The Viva Sports TV panel made up of vastly experienced boxing analyst  Moy Lainez and this reporter had Petch Kokietgym the winner on our unofficial scorecards 77-75.