I?VE always believed in a few articles of faith that I live by when predicting big fights.
One is that substance trumps form and this is where John Riel Casimero always had the edge over Amnat Ruenroeng.
STYLE. In their previous encounter, the Thai fighter used every tactic available, legal or otherwise to keep Casimero off him.
I?m not saying Ruenroeng is a bad fighter. He?s very skilled actually, and has that off beat rhythm that throws opponents off their games.
A case in point is two-time Olympic Gold medalist Zou Shiming from China, who after 6 fights mistakenly thought he could bring his inexperience to the pro ranks and challenge for a world title.
He looked cute in the first half of the fight throwing shoe-shine combinations that looked good on initial glance, but didn?t really inflict any damage.
Ruenroeng?s awkwardness eventually got to the Chinese fighter and Shiming began to lose steam. Ruenroeng took over the 2nd half of the fight and prevailed via unanimous decision.
Against Casimero in their first fight, that ungainly fighting style manifested itself in clinches, headlocks and even takedowns.
It was an ugly, unwatchable fight that resulted in Casimero losing via unanimous decision.
This time though, Casimero came prepared.
DISTANCE. Against a fighter who had fast hands but with no serious pop in those gloves, Casimero was aggressive but he maintained proper punching distance.
The takedown attempts were still there but Casimero kept his composure and patiently waited for the proper opportunity.
At around the two minute mark of the fourth round , Casimero timed Ruenroeng as he was coming forward.
The latter- who often keeps his hands down, gets caught big time with a short cracking right to the jaw and he gets dropped face first.
He gets up at the count of 8, clearly wobblier than me after 3 hours of boozing at my favorite watering hole.
A minute later, a hard body shot sends him crumpled and out as the ref waives it off.
Substance over form. Every time.
CHAMPION. Just like that, Casimero is now a two-time world champion.
The previously undefeated Ruenroeng was making the 6th defense of the crown he first lifted after defeating our very own Rocky Fuentes back in 2014.
Casimero?s move up in weight seems to have benefited him as he is clearly punching with much more power.
With the win, Casimero joins WBO junior featherweight titleholder Nonito Donaire and WBO light flyweight king Donnie Nietes as our country?s current boxing champions.
AHAS. Speaking of Nietes, I should have been in Bacolod this weekend for my favorite ALA fighter?s defense of his world crown.
But lately my schedule has been about as reliable as Draymond Green?s jump shot in the conference finals so I had to decline the generous invitation extended by ALA Promotions.
Donnie will be making his ninth defense of his WBO light flyweight crown against Mexican Raul ? Rayito? Garcia.
Garcia is no pushover as he is a former WBO and IBF minimum weight champion and wields a record of 38-3 with 23 Kos.
TRIVIA. Rayito Garcia is the twin brother of Ramon Garcia whom Nietes beat back in 2011 via unanimous decision.
That was also the last time Nietes fought before a Negrense crowd.
Ramon Garcia also owns a win, albeit a disputed one over John Reil Casimero whom he defeated via split decision back in 2010 for the interim WBO light flyweight crown.
LAST ROUND. It?s on Allan Young who recently celebrated his birthday. Cheers!
