TEAM CASIMERO UPDATES: BRUISED BUT JUBILANT

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani informed philboxing minutes ago that they are all safe after the ring riot that happened minutes after Johnriel Casimero stopped Luis Alberto Lazarte of Argentina in ten rounds for the vacant IBF lt.flyweight title in Mar de Plata.

"The three of us suffered bruises," Gello-ani told this writer, "But I can take it, we can take it. We are celebrating Johnriel's victory. This is a birthday gift that he will offer to the entire Filipino nation."

Casimero will celebrate his 22nd birthday this Monday February 13.

"My friend, Oswaldo Bravo had to pull Casimero pull from the mob and hide him under the ring," Gello-ani recalled their ordeal, "Bottles and chairs were flying. Lazarte is a member of the trucker's union and the rioters were his friends. I was kicked, Pingping (trainer Cristopher Tepora) was punched. But we are safe now and we are guarded by the local police."

"Casimero knocked down Lazarte twice in round nine and he knocked him down again in the tenth," Gello-ani added.

(PHOTO ABOVE OF PROMOTER SAMMY GELLO-ANI, JOHNRIEL CASIMERO AND TRAINER PINGPING TEPORA DURING THE PRE-FIGHT PRESSCON)