Filipino three-division champion Johnriel Casimero wants an massive upgrade in the quality of opponents from his Japanese promoter.
“I hope I get Luis Nery next,” said Casimero during a post-fight Q&A with reporters after he crushed Tom Mizokoshi in five rounds at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.
Nicknamed “Pantera,” Nery, 31, is a former champion at bantamweight and super-bantam who has a 37-2-0 win-loss-draw record with 28 knockouts and a fearsome reputation as a heavy-hitter.
But Casimero, 36, seems unfazed by Nery’s notoriety, stressing that he wants Kameda Promotions to bring him next.
Staging it shouldn’t be difficult since Casimero and Nery fight under the same promotional banner.
In making a winning return following a sorry loss to Kyonosuke Kameda last October in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Casimero showcased awesome power in destroying Mizokoshi, who would up with a broken nose that bled profusely from the second round onwards.
Casimero insists that he could have finished off his hapless opponent right in the second round but decided to take his time.
“I hurt my hand,” he said, showing off that part of his right hand that was swollen. “After I hit him on the nose, I felt it.”
Mizokoshi, who entered the scheduled eight-round featherweight duel with an 11-5-1 record with five knockouts, was never in the fight as Casinero rained heavy blows on him immediately from the get-go.
Before the end came, Casimero unleashed a furious five-punch combination, first a right to Mizokoshi’s ribcage, a hellish left uppercut that narrowly missed, another right to the head and two lefts that got the job done.
Mizokoshi got up at the count of seven but the referee decided that it would be futile to allow him to get another taste of Casimero’s fury.
Mizokoshi, for a second or two, protested the third man’s call but it was crystal clear that Casimero could potentially inflict more harm and punishment if allowed to continue fighting.