Arena Birmingham, in England’s Second City, is a rather strange venue in which to stage a South African defending his WBO bantamweight title against a Filipino challenger, on a show labelled Midlands Mayhem. Incongruity aside, Zolani Tete vs John Riel Casimero – two-weight rulers, both, though the latter in lighter divisions – was an excellent pairing of world-class operators made possible by promoter Frank Warren.
At 5ft 9in, southpaw stylist Tete had five inches in height and eight in reach on orthodox presure-fighter Casimero. The latter could box a bit too while lanky Tete, the pre-fight favourite, is a very solid puncher.
Early on, the champion pumped out his long right jab while Casimero circled and occasionally darted inside. This proved ominous as in round three a short right as Casimero stepped in began Tete’s downfall. He was momentarily frozen and Casimero rapidly moved to the side and crashed in another right to drop the South African. From there, midway through the round, Tete, legs gone, was fighting only for survival. He went down a second time mainly due to a lack of balance, then, upon the resumption, a brutal left hook knocked his head through the ropes and the referee rightly intervened at 2.14 of the session.
Anthony Cacace got off to a promising start in his challenge for Sam Bowen’s British super-featherweight title, a superiority enhanced by a point taken from the champion in the fifth for use of the head. It was Bowen’s educated pressure against rangy Cacace’s skills and accuracy in a nip-and-tuck affair. The consensus was that the Ulsterman deserved it but he had come up just short against Martin J Ward in a previous shot at the same strap. He came through this time, however, 115-113 twice against a 115-112 for Ibstock’s Bowen to secure a split decision and the Lonsdale Belt. Given the Ward setback and that Cacace arrived in Birmingham a day late after esteemed coach Harry Hawkins lost his father, you can only be delighted for him.
British welterweight champion Chris Jenkins, who seems to get cut in most fights, retained his belt against mandatory challenger Liam Taylor via technical draw. Jenkins was slashed by a clash of heads and was ruled out in the fourth.
A battle of unbeatens at super-lightweight saw former amateur standout Sam Maxwell dominate the less experienced Connor Parker before overwhelming him for a seventh-round stoppage. It was set for 10.
