MANILA, Philippines - Unified minimumweight champion Kazuto Ioka was given up to yesterday to decide whether or not to accept the WBC order to make a mandatory defense against No. 1 contender Denver Cuello by September and his reluctance has raised the possibility that the Japanese will vacate the throne to retain only his WBA belt.
“We’re waiting for Ioka’s decision which will be relayed to us by WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman,” said Cuello’s manager Aljoe Jaro. “If he’s scared of Denver, Ioka will give up the WBC title and hold on to the WBA championship or relinquish both and move up to the lightflyweight division. If he agrees to defend against Denver, the fight will likely be in Japan but that doesn’t bother us. Denver is willing to fight anybody, anywhere, even in his own backyard.”
Two weeks ago, Ioka decisioned countryman Akira Yaegashi to unify the WBC/WBA titles in Osaka. The win raised Ioka’s record to 10-0, with 6 KOs. If the 23-year-old Ioka opts to renounce the WBC throne, Cuello will dispute the vacant title with No. 2 contender Wanheng Menayothin of Thailand.
Jaro said if Ioka relinquishes, he will request Sulaiman to rule out a purse bid and award the promotional option to Cuello outright. Wanheng is represented by the Diamond Boxing Stable of Virat Vachirarattanawong. “I’m sure Virat will put up a high bid to promote the fight in Thailand,” said Jaro. “We don’t want a bidding war. Denver is the mandatory challenger so if Ioka vacates, he should be given first option to promote the fight for the vacant title.”
Jaro said he hopes to promote Cuello’s title bid in Manila if the opponent is Wanheng. If Ioka decides to face Cuello, it’s next to impossible to outbid the Japanese. “If it’s Wanheng, I’ll try to bring the fight to Manila,” said Jaro. “If I can’t get support for a fight in Manila, I’ll get Canelo Promotions of Mexico or Golden Boy to take it to Las Vegas, perhaps in the undercard of Saul Alvarez’ next defense of the WBC lightmiddleweight title on Sept. 15.”
Wanheng, 26, has a 23-0 record, with 7 KOs and 15 of his wins were at the expense of Filipinos, including former IBF minimumweight champion Florante Condes, Ardin Diale, Jayson Rotoni twice, Ronelle Ferreras, Ruel Lagunero, Noli Morales and Jonathan Refugio.
At the moment, Cuello is on leave from the ring. Last Saturday, Cuello tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Rowena Golena Sarceno of Romblon before officiating minister Bro. Romeo Rosal at the Iglesia Ni Cristo chapel in Angono. Among the sponsors were Sen. Lito Lapid, Mayor Gerry Calderon of Angono, Jaro, former two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa, former US Army fighter Carlito Vasquez, Marissa Sanchez, Shape Up Gym co-owner Anson Tiu Co of Baguio and TV broadcaster Chino Trinidad.
Cuello’s father Demetrio, 58, flew in from Iloilo to attend the wedding with daughter Cherry and son Dizon. Cuello’s mother Irene died of a stroke in 2007 and Jaro’s wife Alice served as his “second” parent in the wedding entourage.
“Denver always liked to box,” recalled his father in Pilipino. “When he was about nine, he used a sack of sand as a punching bag. His cousins from his mother’s side boxed as amateurs so Denver joined them in the gym. He’s very disciplined and considerate. From what he earns in boxing, he sends money to pay for the education of his brothers Dizon and Denmark. He’s also helping us with badly-needed house repairs.”
Jaro said as Cuello gets older, he’ll find it more and more difficult to stay within the 105-pound division. “Our plan is for Denver to get the title, make a few defenses then move up to 108,” said Jaro. “My dream fight is Denver against the unbeaten Nicaraguan Roman Gonzalez, the WBA lightflyweight champion who has a record of 32-0, with 27 KOs. I think Denver is the only fighter who can beat Gonzalez at 108 or even 112. No Mexican fighter dares to fight Gonzalez but even as Denver is ready even now, we’re not getting ahead of our immediate plans. Our first priority is to fight Ioka and if he refuses, we’ll go after Wanheng.”