Boxing
Malacañang fetes boxers Nietes, Casimero, Jaro
Malacañang Photo Bureau/Robert Viñas
MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III received three Filipino boxers who have brought honor and glory to the country, carving their names in the world’s roster of best sluggers.
Filipino boxers Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, Johnriel “Quadro Alas” Casimero and Sonnyboy Jaro paid a courtesy call on President Aquino at the Music Room of Malacañang on Monday.
The fighters were accompanied by Games and Amusement Board chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon and their respective promoters/managers Edmund Villamor (Nietes), Samson Gello-Ani (Casimero) and Aljoe Jaro (Jaro).
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight champion Nietes was also a former WBO minimum weight champion.
Prior to his boxing career, Nietes worked as a utility man at the Antonio Lopez Aldeguer boxing gym. In 2003, he became a professional boxer and a national champion after a year. He has fought 33 fights, registering 29 wins (16 by knockout), one loss and three draws.
The 22-year-old native of Ormoc, Leyte, Casimero was once the interim WBO light-flyweight champion. A year after turning professional in August of 2008, Casimero won over Rodel Quilaton for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation flyweight title.
Following the bout, Casimero moved down one division to light-flyweight, defeating Liempetch Sor Veerapol of Thailand by technical knockout to claim the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific light flyweight title.
He successfully defended that title two bouts later against Ardin Diale, until he got the biggest break of his career.
In February, Casimero won the International Boxing Federation interim light-flyweight title against Argentinian boxer Luis Lazarte via TKO in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Casimero’s boxing record stands at 14 wins (10 knockouts) and two losses.
WBC flyweight champion Jaro was a former shoemaker before turning professional boxer in September, 2001.
