Manila, Philippines - Before Brian Viloria gets the chance to wrest the WBO flyweight title from defending champion Julio Cesar Miranda, two other Filipino fighters will take their talents to Hawaii and continue their quest for the elusive world title.
Denver Cuello (left, 26-4-6, 16 Kos) who currently fights at the minimum weight division returns to the ring after barely four months of rest. He has won his last five fights, all of these by knockout. It will be his first time to fight outside of the Philippines since losing by disqualification to Juan Hernandez in Mexico. His opponent will be Omar Soto (15-7-1, 6 KOs) of Puerto Rico.
Soto, who is currently on a break, had his last on December. Stylistically, Soto has an advantage over Cuello because he is a technical fighter who can expose the holes in Cuello’s defense.
The other Filipino fighter who will see action is Michael Farenas (right, 31-3-3, 26 KOs). A student of the much-revered Gerry Peñalosa, Farenas is still out to earn a shot at a world title. Toiling at the featherweight and super feather divisions for most of his career, Farenas is a powerful puncher who just can’t put together a good string of wins to give him the position to challenge for a world title.
He will be up against Fernando Beltran Jr. who has a record of 35 wins, five losses and a draw, with 16 of those wins coming via the short route. Beltran is a veteran of many ring wars and he will surely give Farenas all he can handle.
Cuello and Miranda are two of the best prospects to come out and they surely will do everything to make waves abroad. The first step is to win convincingly in Hawaii.
Don’t miss the Island Assault 2 on Solar Sports on July 17, 7 p.m. with replays on July 18 at 1:30 p.m., July 20, 9 p.m. and July 21, 7:30 p.m. (Sky Cable Ch. 70, Destiny Ch. 35 and Cable link Ch.31).