MANILA, Philippines – IBF flyweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero returned to the Philippines on Monday to little fanfare following his 10th round stoppage of previously unbeaten Charlie Edwards on the Gennady Golovkin-Kell Brook undercard last Saturday.

Casimero (23-3, 15 knockouts) shocked the relatively inexperienced Edwards with his power early and often before knocking him down with a heavy left hook and stopping him moments later with a follow-up barrage. The win was Casimero’s first defense of the title he won in May with a knockout of another undefeated fighter, Amnat Ruenroeng. England is the ninth different country in which Casimero has fought.

The 26-year-old from Ormoc City, Philippines had a subdued celebration in London afterward, staying at the hotel after receiving three stitches near his left eye, which was cut in the fourth round. He later took a tour on London’s famed double-decker buses before leaving for his home country.

Sammy Gello-ani, Casimero’s promoter, says he already has several pending offers, on which his team will deliberate but aims for a return to the ring by December.

“I don’t have somebody yet for Casimero since there are offers pending, which we have to decide later,” said Gello-ani of Casimero, the fourth-ranked flyweight in THE RING ratings.

Casimero didn’t give a preference for his next opponent, when asked, but said he did catch Roman Gonzalez’s WBC junior bantamweight title-winning fight against Carlos Cuadras. Gonzalez, who captured a title in his fourth weight class the same day as Casimero’s fight, has been a name Casimero has mentioned as a fight he’d like to pursue.

“They had a good fight. Both fighters exchanged punches very well. (Gonzalez) almost lost, too,” said Casimero.

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to THE RING magazine. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RyanSongalia.

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