By Dennis Principe
INTERNATIONAL promoter Sammy Gello-ani is expecting a slambang affair between International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero and Mexican challenger Felipe Salguero Saturday night at the Makati Coliseum in Makati City, Philippines.
Gello-ani took note of Salguero’s experience as a former world title challenger who gave current WBO 108-lb champion Donnie Nietes tense moments during their 12-round title fight June of last year in Manila.
“Johnriel can’t take his opponent lightly because Salguero looked good in his last two fights. Because of those wins, he’s been rated sixth by the IBF,” said Gello-ani.
Salguero lost a 12-round unanimous verdict to Nietes before suffering an 11th round TKO defeat in his next fight opposite Luis Alberto Rios in an IBF title eliminator held in Panama.
Salguero recovered from those twin defeats by scoring back-to-back knockout wins against Javier Romano (TKO 5) and Armando Vazquez (TKO 7) in Mexico.
During Friday’s weigh-in, Salguero easily made the weight limit at exactly 108lbs while it took almost an hour for Casimero to shed 1 ½ lbs. to make the limit.
This will be Casimero’s third title defense since winning the interim belt in a riot-marred title fight February of last year in Argentina.
In that fight, Casimero hid under the ring for almost an hour after being attacked by irate Argentine fans who could not accept the 10th round TKO win scored by the Filipino champion against local hero Luis Lazarte.
For his first fight as a world champion in his native land, Casimero exuded confidence in adding Salguero to his list of title victims.
“He likes to throw combinations but he is predictable. I think I can figure him out really well,” said Casimero.
Meantime Gello-ani is teaming up with MP Promotions of Manny Pacquiao in staging Casimero’s title defense against Salguero.
“Because of Manny’s support we are making this a free-to-the-public boxing card,” said Gello-ani.
The 23-year-old Casimero holds a record of 18-2, with 10 knockouts while Salguero parades a 18-4-1 tally spiked with 13 stoppages.
The card will also feature world rated fighters Michael Farenas and Froilan Saludar against challengers from Thailand.