Philippines, 25 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


John Riel Casimero wins WBO 118-pound title---third world crown in as many weight divisions


PhilBoxing.com




Carson, California: It was very cold and late this eve of Easter Sunday. But to the 100 people left in attendance at the Dignity Health Sports Park, including the fighters, the ref, ring officials, 50 Mexican and 10 Filipino fans, the last (off-television) throwback of a fight was worth the wait.

I hope we agree based on some insider Tweets, Youtube, Instagram and Facebook posts from these select few, that it was the best fight of the evening. They saw the return of Danny ?Swift? Garcia who dropped Adrian Granados three times before stopping him in round seven for the WBC Silver Welterweight Championship.

Here are some quips, quotes, pics and vids shared by true boxing fans and insiders on how John Riel ?Quadro Alas? Casimero recaptured ring glory.

Top photo: John Riel Casimero with his new WBO Bantamweight Championship belt. Photo by Robert Lyons.



Robert Lyons of Starflite International, Inc. observed, ?Rounds 1-4 were wicked physical debates. They just unloaded on each with wild abandon. We?ve all been waiting 5-6 hours and both combatants appeared eager to make up for lost time. The fifth and six stanzas were more of the same, until John Riel Casimero released a right cross that knocked down Ricardo Espinoza Franco who bounced back despite visibly being hurt. The action continued with Espinoza dictating and Casimero reciprocating until the 12th and final when the boxer from Ormoc, Leyte uncorked a vicious right upper cut that had the Mexican fighter on the ring apron. After the count of eight, Casimero followed up with barrage of overhand rights, wicked right straights and left hooks which prompted the referee to halt it at the 34 second mark.?

What a night cap for fight fans.

Morris ?Hot Java? East, the Las Vegas-based boxing manager agreed, ?Ricardo ?Hindu? Franco is a hell-of-a fighter. He?ll probably need to rethink boxing and just concentrate on his college education after this. John Riel ?Quadro Alas? Casimero is of a different ilk. He is what we consider a fighter?s fighter. Tonight was his debut in the United States and he sure did not disappoint.?

Sean Gibbons, in a Youtube post said, ?John Riel, I?m out of breath, brother, my Facebook stopped in the eleventh round. I didn?t know what was happening. I never had a doubt. I knew you?d do it. Three-time champion of the world!?

By the fight?s end on the 12th round, the Waray they call John Riel Casimero celebrated his latest win with a shovel for a metaphor.

If he was pretending to till the soil?fine.

Pretending to bury the past without amendment?not so fine.

The great writer A.J. Liebling still reminds us the similarity of life and the fight game in his oft-repeated phrase? ?The Sweet Science is joined onto the past like a man?s arm to his shoulder.?



Author?s notes: Happy Easter, everyone! And Happy Birthday our mom Cristina Pasaoa Rivera.

She would have been eighty years old today.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.