Newly crowned champ Casimero attacked by angry Argentine fans

Filipino Johnriel Casimero became the International Boxing Federation's (IBF) junior flyweight champion on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) but it came with a steep price. The 21-year-old fighter from Ormoc City, Leyte defeated hometown bet Luis Alberto Lazarte at Mar Del Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina but got mobbed by angry supporters of the former world champion after being declared the winner of their 12-round bout. Plastic chairs, mineral water bottles and other debris flew towards Casimero's corner shortly after the Filipino scored a 10th-round technical knockout win over Lazarte, the one-time IBF light-flyweight title holder.  Team Casimero, led by trainer Christopher "Pingping" Tepora Jr., appeared confused as they tried to stay away from the angry mob and remain at the center of the ring. Pandemonium broke loose inside and outside the ring as several fans even attacked Casimero's group. Punches were thrown and there was a lot of pushing and shoving during the riot that lasted almost three minutes and had been posted on YouTube. Security inside the arena failed to pacify the rioting crowd as piles of plastic chairs were later left at the center of the ring shortly after the incident.   PhilBoxing’s Rene Bonsubre, who talked to Corazon Gello-ani, the wife of Filipino promoter and delegation head Sammy Gello-ani, said Tepora suffered a head injury while the others got bruises.   The new IBF flyweight champion, however, was spared any injuries, although he said he was punched and even bitten by members of the Lazarte camp, including the Argentine boxer's 22-year-old son.   Casimero (16-2, 10 knockouts) caught Lazarte with a solid punch to the chin in the ninth round, eventually leading him to knock out his Argentine foe in the 10th round of a foul-filled 12-round title match.   In a report by BoxingScene.com, both fighters used dirty tactics during the course of the bout. Lazarte was deducted a point for biting the Filipino on the neck in the sixth round, while Casimero was called for foul play in both the fourth and eight rounds that cost him a point each.   Lazarte, 40, fell to 49-11, with 18 KOs. — JVP/HS, GMA News