Galaw ni Pacquiao gagayahin ni Cuello para talunin si Hernandez

MANILA, Philippines -  Nangako si Iloilo pride Denver Cuello na gagayahin niya si Manny Pacquiao upang talunin si Juan Hernandez sa loob ng ka­nilang 12-round fight para sa WBC interim minimumweight title ngayon sa Salon Plaza Con­desa sa Mexico City.

Kapwa tumimbang sina Cuell­o at Hernandez ng weight limit na 105 pounds sa idinaos na weigh-in sa Mexican Boxing Commission office kahapon.

Matapos makuhanan ng timbang at payagan ng duktor, ag­ad na sumakay si Cuello ng taxi kasama si manager Aljoe Jaro para kumain ng beef steak at “nilagang baka” sa kanilang kuwarto sa Ramada Reporma Hotel.

“Denver is happy that he made the weight after all the hard work,” wika ni Jaro. “He wants to make sure the fight doesn’t go 12 rounds because he’s afraid of losing by hometown decision. Denver is slightly taller than Hernandez but they’re about the same in build. Both are hard hitters so anything can happen.”

Sinabi ni Jaro na ang talino at istilo ang magdedesisyon sa resulta ng laban.

“If they neutralize each other’s strength, the fighter who is smarter will win,” ani Jaro. “The fighter who is able to impose his style will also have a big advantage. I know Denver will do what it takes to win.”

Nagtungo sina Cuello at Jaro sa Los Angeles noong Mayo 15 bago bumiyahe sa Mexico City noong nakaraang Lunes.

“Denver jogged at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, the same route that Manny takes, last Sunday morning,” wika ni Jaro. “We wanted to work out at the Wild Card Gym but it was closed. So we did six rounds of mitts at the Park in the afternoon. Denver skipped rope for about 15 minutes and did four rounds of shadow-boxing.”

Sa kabuuan, 130 sparring rounds ang ginawa ni Cuello ka­sama sina superbantamweight Alan Tañada, superflyweight Aldrin Diale at bantamweight Richard Olisa.

“Mexican fans have a lot of respect for Filipino fighters because of Manny,” ani Jaro. “They think every Filipino fighter is Pacquiao. We were brought to our hotel and later, we went to the gym owned by Erik Morales’ partner Aquilles Torres Cab­rera.”