JOHN RIEL CASIMERO lorded it over Philippine sports in August following a successful defense of his World Boxing Organization bantamweight belt.
Not far behind was, Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo, who, like Casimero, made waves also atop the ring on foreign soil.
Nicknamed “Cuadro Alas,” Casimero hogged the spotlight last August 15 when he fashioned out a split decision victory over crafty and elusive Cuban challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California, to retain his crown.
The Ormoc City pride couldn’t land a knockout punch as the two-time Olympic gold medalist danced away from harm’s way, connecting on counterpunches in the dull fight that disappointed fans who expected fireworks.
Posting his 31st win, 21 by knockout, against four losses, Casimero made a successful second defense of the title he wrested from South African Solani Tete with a third-round stoppage last December 11, 2019, at the Birmingham Arena in England.
Rigondeaux, unapologetic of his drab boxing style, absorbed only his second defeat in 22 matches.
Casimero led the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s (PSA) list of monthly achievers for August, joining the likes of first Philippine Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and her fellow Tokyo Olympics medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial, along with US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, national pole vault record holder EJ Obiena, French Open junior girls doubles champion Alex Eala, among others.
In contrast to the boring Casimero-Rigondeaux clash, Magsayo’s was thrilling and action-packed.
The Filipino prizefighter bucked a fifth-round knockdown to knock out scrappy Mexican Julio Ceja in the 10th round of their scheduled 12-rounder on August 22 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Also handled by MP Promotions of Senator Manny Pacquiao like Casimero, the Boholano featherweight slugger kept his unblemished record intact by registering his 23rd straight win and his 16th knockout victim.
Ceja dropped to his fifth loss with 32 wins and one draw.
Not to be overlooked was Obiena, who booked a new Philippine record of 5.91 meters in placing second behind Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Armand Duplantis of Sweden in the Paris leg of the Diamond League last August 29 at the Charlety Stadium.
It was an encouraging performance for Obiena, who broke his old mark of 5.87 meters he set last July 1 in another second place finish in the Irina Szwewinska Memorial meet in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
His performance was a far cry from his sub-par jump of 5.70 meters to slump to 11th place in the Tokyo Olympics last August 3.