The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against Argentina after fighting broke out just before Filipino boxer Johnreil Casimero was declared the winner of a bout to decide the vacant IBF junior flyweight title in Mar del Plata.

Raul Hernandez said Argentina's ambassador to Manila had been summoned to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"Our embassy in Buenos Aires filed a protest on Feb. 13 to the Argentine government over the riot which happened on February 11 which placed the safety and wellbeing of Mr. Casimero and his team at great danger," Hernandez told reporters, adding that Argentina's embassy in Manila had apologised for the incident.

Casimero knocked out Argentina's Luis "Mosquito" Lazarte in the 10th round of the title fight.

Video footage posted on the internet, much of it taken from ESPN which covered the bout, showed Lazarte's supporters rushing to the ring and attacking the Filipino boxer and his staff.

Bottles and chairs were hurled into the ring and punches were thrown before police intervened.

Hernandez said police escorted Casimero and his staff to their hotel and guarded them until the next morning.

Reuters