Career
Lazarte"s competitive boxing career effectively ended after he was given a rare lifetime ban by the International Boxing Federation following a February 10, 2012 match against Johnriel Casimero in which Lazarte, surrounded by supporters and fighting in his home country, intentionally leveled low blows, headbutts and illegal blows to the back of the head against Casimero, as well as biting him at least twice, threatened the referee"s life after being warned for his conduct, then (after being ruled the loser) deliberately sparked a riot in the arena that caused numerous additional injuries to police, spectators and Casimero"s team On February 2012, during an IBF Light Flyweight title fight in March del Plata, Argentina, Lazarte was stopped in the tenth round by John Riel Casimero. After the fight Lazarte and his team sparked a riot in which Casimero and his team were attacked.
They were later escorted by pólice and later Lazarte visited and apologized to Casimero The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest to the Argentine government after Argentine fans attacked Casimero in the ring after winning the title bout.
Philippine Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said that his country"s embassy filed a protest with Argentina"s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is awaiting an explanation. His role in the riot resulted in a rare lifetime ban being given to Lazarte by the IBF. He announced his retirement afterwards.
