Philippines, 23 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


CASIMERO BEATS BUHAWE IN ILIGAN


PhilBoxing.com




Former two-division IBF world champ John Riel Casimero had his first fight since relinquishing the IBF flyweight crown and beat Jecker Buhawe by unanimous verdict in Iligan City last June 25.

Casimero was reported to be fighting three-time world title challenger Richie Mepranum of Sarangani but an injury to Mepranum forced Casimero?s camp to look for a substitute opponent.

?Mepranum was injured in training a week before the scheduled fight date,? Promoter Sammy Gello-ani told this writer. ?We had to rush in looking for an opponent and Buhawe accepted the offer. We did not immediately announce it because we were waiting for the approval of the GAB.?

Gello-ani also told philboxing a few interesting details about the fight. ?The fight was originally scheduled at 5:30 PM but it was moved to 1:00PM due to the early curfew issued on the last day of Ramadan. The Mepranum fight was a done deal since May before Martial Law was declared in Mindanao. We monitored the situation in Iligan City and decided to go on with the scheduled fight.?

?Casimero landed some good shots in the early rounds and he knocked down Jecker Buhawe in the second round.? Gello-ani stated, ?Buhawe managed to finish the round and survived in the succeeding rounds by clinching Casimero more often. He finished the fight handing Casimero the UD result.?

Casimero is now 24W-3L,15KO?s. Buhawe drops to 16W-14L-1D,10KO?s.

Boxrec had the fight held at the Iligan Public Plaza listed at six rounds with both boxers at 117. Casimero, from Ormoc City, is fighting in his third weight category after reigning as the IBF world light flyweight champion from 2012 till 2014 when he lost his title at the scales before knocking out Colombian challenger Mauricio Fuentes in one round in Cebu City. He captured his second world title as a flyweight last year, stopping Thai Amnat Ruenroeng in four rounds in a revenge fight, held in Beijing, China. After defending his belt by stopping British Charlie Edwards in ten rounds in the U.K., Casimero decided it was time to go up to another weight class.

The May 2017 rankings of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) has the 27 year old Casimero ranked number 4 at junior bantamweight. The IBF world champion in this division is another Filipino, Jerwin Ancajas (26W-1L-1D,17KO?s), who will defend his title in a mandatory defense against Japanese challenger Teiru Kinoshita on the undercard of the WBO world welterweight title fight between boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Australian challenger Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia on July 2.

File photo - Johnriel Casimero one day before leaving for the U.K. to defend against Charlie Edwards.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • 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
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: Twelve Years Later, Don José is Still With Us
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • Get know “BIG BAD BAZLEY”as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • “Jye Chin brings a fight to whoever, whenever and where ever”: Jye Chin ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 JANUARY 2026: Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa End in No Contest; Raul Curiel Outpoints Jordan Panthen
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 19 Jan 2026
  • Ryan Daye ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 19 Jan 2026
  • RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos)
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE
    , Fri, 16 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.