DUMATING na sa bansa nitong Sabado si Mexican challenger Cesar “Perico” Ramirez (18-3, 11 KO’s) para makapaghanda sa nalalapit na laban kay Pinoy champion at three division champion John Riel Casimero (27-4, 18 KO’s) sa Agosto 24 sa Malate, Manila.
Mas mataas ng di hamak kay Casimero, target ng Mexican fighter na maagaw ang interim WBO Bantamweight belt ng Pinoy champion.
“I am delighted to be here in the Philippines. I came here because I like Filipino boxing, and because I want Casimero’s belt. And I will get it,” pahayag ng 31-anyos na si Ramirez sa media interview sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!
Ngunit, hindi magiging madali ang kanyang pakay.
Sa harap ng mga kababayan, inaasahang masigasig na Casimero – naging kampeon sa 108 lbs., 112lbs. ay ngayo’y sa 118 lbs. – para mabigyan ng karangalan ang sambayanan.
Galing sa impresibong 12 round TKO si Casimero kontra Mexican slugger Ricardo Espinoza Franco (23-3, 20 KO’s) nitong Abril sa Carson, CA.
Kasama ni Ramirez na dumating sa bansa ang manager na si Victor “Vitoques” Martinez at coach na si Francisco “Yiyo” Bracamontes.
Ipinakilala ni promoter/matchmaker Sean Gibbons ng Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, ang magkatunggali sa media briefing kahapon sa Plaza Mexico ng Manila Hotel.
“Ramirez prepared two months for this fight and he’s a very hungry fighter with a lot of Mexican pride,” pahayag ni Gibbons. “If Casimero wins, next Monday morning, we’ll move to make the Tete fight. That’s the fight Casimero wants and it will take place either in the US or England. I anticipate it going to a purse bid.”
Target ni Casimero, dating IBF lightflyweight and flyweight champion, na mapasama kina Pacquiao, Donnie Nietes at Nonito Donaire bilang tanging Pinoy na nakapagwagi ng world title sa tatlo o higit pang dibisyon.
Mula nang matalo noong 2017 sa kababayang si Jonas Sultan sa Cebu City, naitala ni Casimero ang tatlong sunod na panalo via KO kina Mexico’s Jose Pech sa Tijuana, Japan’s Kenya Yamashita sa SM City North EDSA Skydome at Espinoza.
“Casimero has learned from his mistakes and now works with Nonoy who’s his trainer,” sambit ni Gibbons. “He knows what’s at stake in his fight against Ramirez.”
