Casimero knocks Duke Micah in round 3

Ghana’s Duke Micah missed out on a chance to become a world champion after he suffered a 3rd round TKO defeat against Philippino boxer John Riel Casimero in a WBO bantamweight world title fight on Saturday night.

The powerful Filipino knocked down Micah in the second round and stopped him in the third round of their scheduled 12-round fight for Casimero’s WBO bantamweight title.

Referee Steve Willis stopped the action at 54 seconds of the third round in the opener of Showtime Pay-Per-View’s six-fight event at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut (USA).

The 29-year-old Micah, the 11th-ranked contender for Casimero’s championship, suffered the first defeat of his seven-year pro career (24-1, 19 KOs).

31-year-old Casimero (30-4, 21 KOs), a three-division champion who was a 9-1 favorite, made the first defense of the WBO bantamweight title he won last November 30 by knocking out South Africa’s Zolani Tete (28-4, 21 KOs) in the third round in Birmingham, England.

“In the first round [I hit him with] a body shot and [I heard], ‘Ooh!,’ ” Casimero said. “Then I hit him with a hook and I heard, ‘Oh, sh-t!’ I think maybe first round [I would knock him out], but that’s a good boxer. … Duke Micah, all my punches, he eat. But he has a strong chin. I’m surprised because my prediction is one hit maybe, because I’m strong, man.”

Referee Steve Willis warned Micah at the start of the third round that he needed to show him something or he would quickly stop the bout. He took several more power punches from Casimero, which made Willis step between them to stop the action.

Micah drilled Casimero with a straight right hand about 40 seconds into the second round. A left hook by Casimero knocked Micah to the canvas just before the halfway point of the second round.

Micah was hurt badly, but he answered Willis’ count. Casimero tried his best to finish off Micah, who somehow managed to survive his onslaught.

Micah went to the canvas again with 37 seconds to go in the second round, but it was the result of a slip, not one of Casimero’s punches.

Casimero connected with a right hand about 50 seconds into their bout that made Micah hold him. Casimero landed a hard right to Michah’s body in the final minute of the opening round, but Micah clipped Casimero with a right hand that backed up Casimero with about 15 seconds to go in it.

Both boxers threw punches after the bell sounded to end the first round, though none of those shots landed.