Cuello hihingi ng rematch matapos mabigo kay Zhong

MANILA, Philippines - Kagaya ng dapat asa-han, hihingi ng rematch ang kampo ni Denver Cuello laban kay world minimumweight champion Xiong Zhao Zhong ng China.

Ito ay matapos ang isang majority decision loss ng 26-anyos na si Cuello sa 30-anyos na si Zhong noong nakaraang Biyernes sa World Trade Centre sa Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“We have been left stunned,” sabi ni Aljoe Jaro, ang trainer at ma-nager ni Cuello sa pana-yam ng Sport360°. “From what we saw, Zhong only won three clear rounds so it seems the close ones were also given to him.”

Nabigo si Cuello na maagaw sa Chinese ang suot nitong World Boxing Council minimumweight title dahil na rin sa kanyang dislocated right shoulder na nangyari sa gitna ng kanilang upakan.

Nauna nang pinabagsak ni Cuello (33-5-6, 21 knockouts) si Zhong (21-4-1, 11 KOs) sa first round mula sa isang left straight at napatawan naman ang Chinese ng one-point deduction dahil sa headbutt sa ninth round.

“Cuello knocked him down in the first round and Zhong had a point deducted for the headbutt,” reklamo ni Jaro. “So we can’t understand the result. It was a disgrace.”

Nagkaroon ng putok sa kanyang ulo si Cuello nang magkabanggaan ang kanilang mga ulo ni Zhong sa ninth round.

“We will speak to the WBC and demand a rematch,” ani Jaro. “It was a great night of boxing for the fans here in Dubai and we are keen to do it all over again.”

Tinanggap naman ng kampo ni Zhong ang paghahamon ng grupo ni Cuello.

“Absolutely, we would be interested in a second fight. Anytime, any place,” wika ni Gang Liu, ang trainer at mana-ger ni Zhong. “We are very proud of Zhong and he deserved to win the fight. He has done China very proud.”