By Jake Donovan
Amnat Ruenroeng and John Riel Casimero are set for their anticipated flyweight title clash Saturday afternoon in Bangkok, Thailand.
Both fighters made weight ahead of Saturday’s headliner, which will air live on Thailand’s Mono 29, as well as simulcast live on Philippines
Sports 5’s website
, airing on the network Sunday afternoon via tape delay. Ruenroeng weighed in exactly at the 112 lb. flyweight limit, while Casimero came in at a trim and fit 112 lbs.
Ruenroeng (15-0, 5KOs) will attempt the fourth defense of the title he claimed last January. His 12-round win over Rocky Fuentes to win the vacant belt kicked off what was a Fighter of the Year-worthy ring campaign (or at least good for High Honorable Mention honors) in 2014. Two subsequent title defenses saw the Thai guy claim decision wins over Kazuto Ioka and McWilliams Arroyo to round out his year.
The win over Ioka last May served as Ruenroeng’s breakout performance, schooling the previously unbeaten two-division titlist on the road in Osaka, Japan. The split decision verdict was homage to Ioka’s hometown popularity, as the outcome should have never been in doubt.
Slightly more controversial was Ruenroeng’s win over Arroyo in a matchup of 2008 Olympic boxers last September. Ruenroeng was forced to climb off the deck to claim a debatable split decision over Arroyo, one-half of a talented twin brother duo fighting out of Puerto Rico. The fight landed in Thailand, thanks to a massive purse bid offering (for a flyweight fight, anyway) from Jimmy Boxing Promotions, who also promotes Saturday’s contest in Bankgkok.
Ruenroeng kicked off his 2015 campaign in style, traveling to Macao to claim a convincing points win over local hero and three-time Olympic medalist Zou Shiming in March.
Casimero (21-2, 13KOs) is no stranger to conceding hometown advantage, with most of his best career moments taking place outside of his native Philippines.
The 25-year old slugger claimed two separate interim titles on the road, beginning with an 11th round knockout of Cesar Canchilla for his first championship taste in Dec. 11. The moment was short-lived after suffering both career losses in back-to-back fights. Casimero dropped a split decision to Ramon Garcia in their July ’10 clash in Mexico before an ill-advised first attempt at a flyweight belt resulted in the lone stoppage loss of his career when Moruti Mthalane halted him in the 5th round of their March ’11 title fight in South Africa.
Seven straight wins have followed, only two of which have taken place at home. The start of his win streak nearly cost him his life, as Casimero scored a 10th round stoppage of Luis Lazarte in one of the dirtiest title fights in recent memory. Both fighters traded knockdowns and fouls before Lazarte was beaten into submission in crowning Casimero as a junior flyweight titlist.
The verdict didn’t sit well with the crowd in Buenos Aires, nor with Lazarte’s corner or supporters, particularly one punk whose actions initiated a violent riot. Casimero and his team—including the well-traveled Sean Gibbons —were forced to ride out the chaos, which included a hailstorm of chairs being heaved into the ring and throughout the venue before order was eventually restored.
The rest of Casimero’s current win streak has come in far more peaceful settings. Included among his seven wins are a close but clear win on the road in Mexico over Pedro Guevara, who has since become a junior flyweight champ, facing Ganigan Lopez next weekend, also in Mexico.
Casimero saw his title reign end at the scales, coming in more than a full division over the junior flyweight limit in his 1st round knockout of Mauricio Fuentes last May in Cebu, Philippines. Efforts to remain active while awaiting a flyweight title shot led to his returning to Mexico, stopping journeyman Armando Santos in two rounds last December.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox