Cuello fights Indonesian for WBC crown

MANILA, Philippines - Up-and-coming Denver Cuello is all primed up as he takes on Indonesian boxer Muhammad Rachman this Saturday at the Mindanao State University’s Iligan Institute of Technology gym in Iligan for the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimum flyweight crown.

The 22-year-old Cuello, a Cabatuan, Iloilo native who is WBC’s minimum flyweight No. 1 contender, said he had trained well against the seasoned Rachman and is confident of pulling off the victory.

“Every afternoon I always watch and study the videos of his earlier fights against Florante Condes and Thai Oleydong Sithsamerchai and hopefully I’ll get something out of it,” said Cuello in Filipino in yesterday’s press briefing hosted by GMA 7 at its main building in Quezon City.

Cuello carries a 21-4-5 (win-draw-loss) slate, including 12 knockouts.

He said he has gotten over his controversial third round disqualification loss to Mexican Juan Hernandez last May in Mexico where he clearly knocked out the latter only to be disqualified.

In fact, Cuello has won two straight fights, one over Nelson Llanos in Angono, Rizal and then Arnold Tadena last Aug. 1 in Bacolod City.

 The 39-year old Rachman has won 62 fights, including 31 knockouts, but has lost eight and drawn five bouts. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Milan Melindo last March, and to Sitsamerchai by technical decision last May.