Mob assault was only the latest of boxing champ Casimero's misfortunes

"Mahirap po sakin. Nag control nalang ako para naman hindi ma-pressure sa laban. Tinanggap ko nalang yung pagkawala sa akin ng kapatid ko," he said stoically. While grieving, Casimero had to face Luis Alberto Lazarte, well-known for being a physical and dirty fighter, in his home town populated by notoriously hot-headed sports fans. "Napanood ko na siya sa mga laban niya sa Youtube. Na-aral ko na ang laro niya na madumi. Di na ko nag-worry dahil alam ko na ganun talaga ang laban niya. Madumi talaga," recalled Casimero. Casimero had to grind it out with Lazarte. The Argentinian was shown punching the Filipino in the back of the head several times. Twice, he was caught biting the the visitor in the neck. In the fourth round, the referee stopped the fight and deducted a point from Casimero for purportedly kicking Lazarte, who fell and grabbed the Filipino's legs. Casimero explains that he did not kick Lazarde, as he was merely trying to shake loose Lazarte's grip on his legs. "Hindi ko siya sinipa. Tinamaan ko si Lazarte, nag-groggy siya tapos hinawakan niya ang paa ko. Hinigpitan niya paghawak. Hinawakan ko yung ulo niya. Naisip ko, ano ba to? Bakit ganito? Bakit pwede bang humawak sa paa ko? Hinawakan ko lang yung ulo niya," Casimero explains. In the 10th round, Casimero finally dropped Lazarte. After the American referee stopped the fight, his celebration was cut short by fans who started pelting the Filipino and his crew with water bottles and chairs.  "Na-ano lang yung mga tao. Di sila nag-expect na yung champion nila, mas marami akong suntok na natapon sa kanya. Mas lamang ako kaya nagalit sila. Wala sa isip nila na lamang ako sa laban." The young Filipino admitted that he was fearful of the crowd. "Nakakatakot talaga. Lahat ng tao kalaban mo tapos tinapunan kami ng mga mineral at silya, bangko. Tapos sabi ko sa sarili ko, bakit nagkaganito to? Saan na ba ang mga pulis dito? Kung may armas yung mga tao dun, patay kami. Hindi yun masaya para sa amin dahil sport lang ang laban." His team had fled for their lives and police seemed intimidated by the crowd. The Filipino had to save himself alone. "Ako lang yung nakapagligtas sa aking sarili dahil wala nang makakapagligtas sayo dun dahil yung mga tao, kung sino magligtas, kunwari ikaw magligtas ka sakin, pag niligtas mo ko, pati ikaw sasaktan ka rin." Before fleeing, his team tried to help him, with one of his cornermen suffering a broken rib along the way. "Sabi nila, wag kang aalis sa paningin namin. Dito ka lang sa harapan naman. Tapos ayon, bugbog naman sila. Nagkahiwalay na kami," he recalled. The mayhem was an instant Youtube hit, with boxing fans condemning Lazarte and the Argentinian fans who assaulted the Filipino's camp. The post-fight attention didn't matter much to Casimero, though, as he had to hurry back home. His family wasn't keen on him granting too many interviews, as they believed that he should spend most of his time at the wake of his brother. "Sabi nila, wag ka nalang muna magpa-interview dahil yung kapatid mo, matagal tong naghintay sa 'yo. Sabi ko, sana maintindihan ni Jerald dahil importante din ito para sa akin. Sila lahat nag-alala sa 'kin dahil bakit nagkaganon." After doing his rounds with the media, Casimero will catch the last flight out of Manila Friday to be in Ormoc for his brother's funeral the next day. For his troubles, Casimero earned a $50,000 fight purse, but he will only get a fraction of the pot after his promoter and the rest of his team get their share. When asked what he was going to do with his prize money, Casimero had only one thing in mind: "Yuta," he said.  He drew a square with his fingers. We asked if he wanted an iPad. He said no. With the help of a member of his team, he clarified that "yuta" is their term for "lupa (land)." "Sa ngayon, bibili kami ng yuta. Lupa. Bibili ako ng lupa. Bibigyan ko ng negosyo yung mama ko para di sila mahirapan. Yung papa ko isang porter lang po." Casimero's father is a porter in Ormoc. In his late forties, he climbs on boats before doors open, just so he can peddle his services to passengers. For a small fee, he will carry the heaviest loads on his back and use the money to support his family.  "Patigilin ko na yun kasi mabigat. Naawa kasi ako don kapag uuwi ako sa amin makikita ko siya na maraming dinadala. Tapos kapag pupunta na ko sa Cebu, nakikita ko siya na takbo ng takbo tapos may dalang malalaki na mga bag. Tapos pag dating ko sa barko, iiyak nalang ako," revealed the champ.