John Riel Casimero’s No-Contest Verdict Against Ryo Akaho Overturned Giving Him A Second-Round KO Victory

Three weeks ago in South Korea, John Riel Casimero was involved in a controversial contest with Ryo Akaho.

John Riel Casimero’s No-Contest Verdict Against Ryo Akaho Overturned Giving Him A Second-Round KO Victory

On December 3, the featherweight fight held in Incheon, South Korea, had Casimero dealing with a somewhat dubious knockdown ruling that eventually caused the bout to be concluded at 2:25 of the second round.

Akaho had complained to the referee that he was unable to continue the fight after being struck on the back of the head by Casimero, thus initially prompting the match to be declared a no-contest.

However, the KBMC (Korea Boxing Member’s Commission) approved the alteration of Casimero’s no-contest verdict to a second-round knockout victory for the ex-three-division champion.

After looking into the bout, the Korea Boxing Member Committee concluded that it was a valid knockout, taking into consideration Akaho’s confession that he had already been injured from Casimero’s flurry of punches before one of them grazed the back of his head.

In an official statement given on behalf of the KBM, the chairman, John Hwang, said the following: “In a letter to KBM after the fight, Mr Akaho claimed he [lost by knockout], Yokohama Hikari Gym, which Akaho belongs to, also admitted that Mr Akaho lost by KO.

“Mr Akaho said that the damage he received was not due to the impact of the punch hit [to] the back of his head. He took a break and tried to fight again, but he gave up because he couldn’t and admitted that it was his KO defeat.”

After the no-contest ruling was reversed, Casimero’s record improved to 32 wins and four losses, with 22 knockouts, while Akaho’s dropped to 39 victories, three defeats, and two draws.