By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Former WBO champ Masayuki Ito’s TB (Treasure Boxing) Promotions’ third show was sensational and successful on Saturday in Manila, Philippines. In the main event John Riel Casimero (33-4, 22 KOs) managed to acquire the WBO Global 122-pound belt as he eked out a close but unanimous decision (114-112, 116-110 twice) over Fillipus Nghitumbwa (12-2, 11 KOs), from Namibia, over twelve hard-fought rounds at Okada Manila Hotel and Casino.

The sixth saw Casimero explode a devastating left hook, badly dropping the Namibian who very barely resumed fighting. Fillipus, however, made an incredible recovery, while John Riel gradually ran out of gas. Nghitumbwa almost turned the tables with his last surge, but was unfortunately penalized a point for rabbit punch in round twelve.

WBO Asia Pacific junior middleweight champ Takeshi Inoue (19-2-2, 11 KOs), Japan, was held to a split draw (117-111, 113-115, 114-114) with previously unbeaten Filipino KO artist Weljon Mindoro (10-0-1, 10 KOs) over a see-saw twelve. Mindoro deserves a rematch with the regional belt at stake again.

World-rated Japanese flyweight Ayumu Hanada (10-2-1, 8 KOs) surprisingly dropped a close but unanimous decision (77-75 twice, 79-73) to Vince Paras (19-2-1, 15 KOs) in a flyweight eight. Having upset Azael Villar via TKO to enter the world top ten, Hanada, a Mexico-based Japanese youngster, found a tougher opponent in Paras than expected.

_