Cuello begins ascent to throne

MANILA, Philippines - Iloilo contender Denver Cuello is two wins away from clinching a shot at the WBC minimumweight title and he’s linked up with an influential Mexican promoter to make sure there are no delays in ascending the throne.

The first step is beating Patricio Camacho in a 10-round bout at Quintana Roo, Mexico, tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila time).  If Cuello prevails, he’ll take on Carlos Perez, another Mexican, in a 12-round match for the vacant WBC silver 105-pound crown in Los Cabos on Oct. 15.  A win over Perez will catapult Cuello into a duel with Ganigan Lopez on Dec. 10 for the WBC minimumweight title which is expected to be vacated by Japan’s Kazuto Ioka after his second defense in November.

Cuello and manager Aljoe Jaro left Manila for Las Vegas two weeks ago.  They stayed in Las Vegas for three days then proceeded to Mexico.  Jaro said he has forged an agreement with  Canelo Promotions president and chief executive officer Eddy Reynoso to work together in promoting Cuello’s title bid.  Canelo Promotions has a stable of 18 fighters, including WBC lightmiddleweight champion Saul (Canelo) Alvarez, Nobuhiro Ishida of Japan and Rigoberto Alvarez.  Cuello will remain in Mexico until his fight against Lopez and intends to return home a world champion.

“We’ve got a good chance of beating Camacho because they won’t cheat us since Canelo Promotions is backing us up,” said Jaro, staying with Cuello at the Casa Mexicana Hotel.  “Reynoso loves Denver.  They’re treating us very well.  Our accommodations are first class.  They’re not scrimping in hosting us.  Canelo wants Denver to win just as badly as we do.”

Jaro confirmed that if Cuello disposes of Camacho, he’ll move on to battle Perez and if he wins again, next in the agenda is a showdown with Lopez in a card where Alvarez is expected to stake his WBC 154-pound crown on Dec. 10.  Alvarez, 21, stopped Alfonso Gomez to raise his record to 38-0-1, with 28 KOs, in his second defense in Los Angeles last Saturday.

“Ioka will relinquish the WBC miniumumweight title after his next defense in November and that will clear the way for Denver and Lopez to fight for the vacant throne,” said Jaro.  “Canelo Promotions is excited to put Alvarez and Denver on the same card in a double WBC title event.”

Jaro said Cuello and Camacho are similar in size.  The fight isn’t expected to go the distance as Cuello has won his last six outings by knockout and Camacho his last two, also via the short route.  Cuello, a southpaw, has a record of 27-4-6, with 17 KOs, compared to Camacho’s 12-5-1, with nine KOs.  Camacho’s ability to take a punch is questionable as his five losses all were by knockout.  Cuello is ranked No. 4 by the WBC and No. 6 by the IBF.  He’s also rated No. 5 by the WBO and No. 7 by the WBA as a lightflyweight.

Jaro said Cuello isn’t taking Camacho for granted and will go all out to seal the fight against Perez who has a 12-3-3 record, with eight KOs, and holds the WBC Latino miniumumweight title. 

Jaro said he watched Floyd Mayweather’s knockout win over Victor Ortiz last Saturday and wasn’t impressed.  “Mayweather is a real businessman,” he said.  “You’ve got to give him credit for marketing himself.  My comment is if he fights Manny (Pacquiao), Mayweather won’t be able to do the things he likes to do in the ring because Manny throws too many punches that he’s not going to see where they’re coming from.  That’s how Manny will beat Mayweather.”

In another big fight tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila time), Michael Landero of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, takes on Hekkie Budler for the vacant IBO minimumweight championship in Gauteng, South Africa.  Landero, 24, is unbeaten in his last nine bouts and his last setback was to Cuello on points in 2008.  The OPBF titleholder has a 15-4-4 record, with five KOs, while Budler’s record is 18-1, with six KOs.  No Filipino has ever won in a world title fight in South Africa.