Casimero targets Gonzales

AFTER beating one of the best flyweights in the world, Johnriel Casimero has only one target in sight and that no other than boxing's poundfor-pound king, Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

Casimero avenged his decision defeat to Amnat Ruenroeng last year, by knocking him out in their rematch last May 25 in China. After proving himself worthy against the second best in the division, he believes that it's fit that he'll be a worthy challenger for the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the division's lineal champion Gonzalez, who is still unbeaten in 45 pro fights.

“Casimero's win was very impressive. The program and the plans of Feleciano (Jun) Agrabio Jr. were followed by Johnriel. Finally he had avenged his controversial loss last year against Ruenroeng,” Casimero's Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu. “We are still working on what is next for him but Casimero is calling the camp of Roman Gonzalez. If he (Gonzalez) is interested to unify his title then he (Casimero) is very much willing. Sampson Lewkowicz, our American partner promoter, is working on it.”

The 26-year-old Casimero handed Ruenroeng, a former Olympian, his first career defeat in the pro ranks. He captured his second division title, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt, in the process.

Casimero was previously ranked at No. 10 in The Ring's flyweight division. But after beating beating Ruenroeng, he is now the fifth best 112-pounder behind Gonzalez, World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada, Kazuto Ioka and FilipinoAmerican Brian Viloria. The 36-year-old Ruenroeng dropped from the No. 2 spot to No. 6.