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MANILA, Philippines – Top-rated Filipino boxer Denver Cuello returns to action this Saturday, June 27 in a scheduled 10-round fight against Boy Tanto at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Should Cuello emerge victorious, manager Aljoe Jaro tells Rappler that the World Boxing Council has promised him a match against WBC strawweight titleholder Wanheng Menayothin before the end of the year.
Cuello (35-5-6, 23 knockouts) of Cabatuan, Iloilo, Philippines is currently the no. 1 ranked contender by the WBC at 105 pounds.
Cuello has been largely inactive since his 2013 upset loss to then-WBC titleholder Xiong Zhao Zhong. Cuello had entered that fight with a torn right rotator cuff and took nearly a year and a half off afterwards to recuperate.
The 28-year-old southpaw scored two knockouts of limited opponents in October and November of 2014, appearing hesitant to test out his surgically repaired shoulder in those fights. Jaro has warned Cuello that any hesitation could mark the end of his Cuello’s career as a top contender.
“I told him don’t be afraid, because if you don’t get the title this year, maybe you’re finished,” Jaro said from Thailand.
“Now the shoulder is OK,” Cuello tells Rappler. “I’m excited to fight on Saturday because it brings me closer to my world championship fight.”
Denver Cuello hits the punching bag in Thailand
Jaro, a former boxer and Iloilo native, is pulling triple duty in Thailand, assisting his brother Frankie Jaro in training IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng for his title defense against former IBF junior flyweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero of the Philippines in the main event.
He’ll also be working the corner of 2004 Olympic junior lightweight gold medalist Manus Boonjumnong, who is making his pro debut on the card.
The 29-year-old Boy Tanto (9-16, 1 KO) has lost each time he has left his native Indonesia, and has himself fought Menayothin in 2012, suffering a second round knockout loss.
Jaro says Cuello has had training assistance in Thailand from Natt Sirichet Pinthipayanon, a professor of Sports Science at Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok. Cuello sparred twice with Ruenroeng last week, and has drawn respect from Thai boxing official General Taweep Jantaroj.
Menayothin (38-0, 13 KOs) of Bangkok won the title last November with a ninth round knockout of Oswaldo Novoa, who had defeated Xiong to win the title. Menayothin has kept busy this year with title retaining wins over Filipino boxers Jeffrey Galero and Jerry Tomogdan. – Rappler.com
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