THE mandatory world title defense of International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight king Johnriel Casimero is in the works for early next year.
SGG Promotions head Sammy Gello-ani is currently in negotiations for Casimero?s second title defense against mandatory challenger Luis Alberto Rios.
?Casimero will defend his title in a mandatory fight that will possibly be done in January or February 2013. Negotiation will be done this November,? Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu.
However, the exact details on when or where the fight will be staged are still undetermined.
?We are on negotiation stage and we don?t know yet what will happen. We may go on bidding or just compromise,? said the veteran international promoter.
The 22-year-old Casimero, 17-2 with 10 knockouts, won the interim IBF light flyweight title with a 10th-round technical knockout over Argentine star Luis Alberto Lazarte last Feb. 10 in Mar del Plata, Argentina in a fight that ended in a riot. Casimero, who trains in Cebu at the Omega Boxing Gym, was elevated as the regular champion because Ulises Solis was unable to defend his crown after recuperating from a broken jaw. He defended his crown in Mexico with a razor-thin split decision over erstwhile unbeaten Pedro Guevarra.
?I am not so familiar yet with Rios but what I know from my friends here in Panama is he is good,? said Gello-ani.
Eliminator
The 22-year-old Rios has an 18-1-1 slate with 13 knockouts. He earned the No. 1 spot with an 11th-round stoppage over former world title challenger Felipe Salguero in an eliminator last month.
He has fought the likes of former world title contenders Walter Tello, Carlos Melo and Luis Carillo.
On the other hand, before his mandatory title defense against Mexican Moises Fuentes, World Boxing Organization (WBO) light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes will have a 10-round tune-up bout against unheralded Danai Meedaeng on Nov. 17 at the Lamberto Macias Spots Complex in Dumaguete City.
