INSTEAD of a tune-up fight for a highly anticipated world title face-off with Ulises Solis, interim International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero is defending his crown next month.
The IBF has mandated Casimero, who won the interim belt last February, to defend his crown in July.
Because of the directive of IBF and the unavailability of Solis and other rated fighters, Casimero?s Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani settled for No. 14 ranked Mauricio Fuentes, who was originally scheduled as Casimero?s opponent in a non-title bout.
?(Sammy) Gutierrez pulled out and decided not to come to the Philippines. Solis can?t fight early,? said Gello-ani in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu. ?There are no available fighters so we recommended a fighter coming up in the rankings.?
Casimero and Fuentes were supposed to trade leathers on June 30 at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
The fight is now elevated to a 12-round world title match and will be staged in Cebu or Manila.
If successful in his title defense, the 22-year-old Casimero will be mandated to face Solis, the titleholder of the regular IBF light flyweight crown. Solis, who just recuperated from a broken jaw, has been given until October to defend his crown. If not, Casimero will be elevated as the regular champion.
Casimero captured the interim IBF light flyweight belt after a 10th round technical knockout over veteran former world champion Luis Alberto Lazarte.
Casimero has an impressive slate of 16-2 with 10 knockouts. His two defeats are both in world title fights against elite fighters Ramon Garcia and Moruti Mthalane.
