Casimero, Llover score KO wins in Japan

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino boxers bagged dominant wins in Japan, as John Riel Casimero and Kenneth Llover knocked their respective opponents out Saturday at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname.

Casimero had a dominant return in Japan, stopping Tom Mizokoshi in the fifth round of their eight-round featherweight clash.

Casimero, who was slapped with a one-year ban from boxing in Japan, picked his opponent apart and went for the kill in the third round.

Mizokoshi, who already had a bleeding nose by the fifth round, received a three-punch combination that sent him to the canvas.

The 36-year-old Filipino was methodical with his punches, landing clean shots and combinations throughout the match.

In the fifth, he turned things up a notch and came out very aggressive, seemingly sending Mizokoshi to the floor within the first 30 seconds of the round, but it was ruled a slip.

A few moments later, Casimero connected on the combination that ended the match for good.

The Filipino rose to 35-5-1 win-loss-draw, with 24 knockouts. Mizokoshi dropped to 11-6-2.

Llover, for his part, also knocked out Ayati Sailike in the second round of their OPBF bantamweight championship bout.

Llover rose to an unbeaten run of 17-0 with 12 knockouts, while Sailike dropped to 12-10.

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