Cuello comeback in jeopardy

MANILA, Philippines - Denver Cuello, once touted to be the next Filipino world boxing champion, is aching to come back after over a year’s layoff to recover from surgery for a torn rotator cuff in the right shoulder but his fight against Indonesia’s Tommy Seran at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Aug. 16 is in danger of cancellation.

Cuello, 27, hasn’t fought since losing a majority 12-round decision to China’s Xiong Zhao Zhong in a bid for the WBC minimumweight crown in Dubai in June last year. The gutsy Filipino challenger fought with a torn rotator cuff and used only one hand in attempting to dethrone Xiong. Cuello managed to floor Xiong with a left hook in the first round but was handicapped to finish him off.

Dr. Agripino (Beng) Javier performed surgery on Cuello at the Makati Medical Center a month after the bout and three titanium screws were implanted to repair the shoulder damage. Cuello underwent therapy for a year and a few weeks ago, began to spar. He has now logged close to 20 rounds of sparring since Dr. Javier gave him the go-signal.

Cuello’s manager Aljoe Jaro assembled a blockbuster fight card to welcome his return to the ring but he’s found it difficult to land a TV contract. “I was close to signing a deal with a TV network,” said Jaro. “My initial price was P1.2 Million because I would import foreign fighters and aside from Denver, two former world champions Sonny Boy Jaro and Florante Condes will be on the card. The TV network bargained it down to P800,000 then it dropped to P450,000 and finally P250,000. At P450,000, I would be out of pocket so what more P250,000? I couldn’t agree. At P250,000, it wouldn’t even be enough to pay for Denver’s purse. It’s just so unfair. Denver is a marquee fighter. This is supposed to be his comeback fight and fans are looking forward to his return. The TV network wants a smaller venue but whether it’s a big or small venue, the TV lights will be the same so the cost is the same. TV plays a major role in promoting our boxers. I just hope Denver gets the support he deserves.”

Cuello lost his lofty world ranking because of inactivity but Jaro said once he’s back on track, he’ll be immediately reinstated. Cuello is angling for a rematch with Xiong even if he’s no longer the WBC champion. Xiong was dethroned by Mexico’s Oswaldo Novoa but has come back to stop Filipino Roilo Golez in Nanyang last May. Xiong is booked to face Indonesia’s Jack Amisa on July 25.

“Right now, Denver isn’t pushing his right hand in sparring,” said Jaro. “He’s just getting used to throwing the right again, little by little. I think once he’s comfortable in throwing the right, it will be a more dangerous weapon than his left.”

Jaro said Seran will be Cuello’s first test assuming the fight pushes through. Seran, 31, has a 23-2 record, with 14 KOs, compared to Cuello’s 33-5-6, with 21 KOs. The Indonesian hasn’t seen action since losing to Filipino Milan Melindo on a fourth round stoppage in Macau in April last year. Seran’s list of victims includes Filipinos Marzon Cabilla, Jayson Rotoni, Fernando Ocon and Mating Kilakil. Jaro said Cuello and Seran will dispute the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council 105-pound championship.

“Denver has been inactive too long and he can’t wait to fight again,” said Jaro. “He’s not used to be out of the world ratings.” Jaro said after his comeback fight, Cuello will be ready to face any of the reigning world minimumweight champions – the WBC’s Novoa, the WBO’s Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. of Mexico, the IBF’s Katsunari Takayama of Japan and the WBA’s Hekkie Budler of South Africa. On Aug. 9, Takayama and Rodriguez will unify the IBF and WBO titles. Rodriguez, 21, won the WBO crown via a 10th round stoppage of Filipino Merlito Sabillo. Cuello could challenge the winner of the Takayama-Rodriguez duel.

Jaro said he’s lined up Sonny Boy Jaro and Condes to take on separate opponents as appetizers for Cuello’s comeback. Sonny Boy Jaro, a former WBC flyweight champion, will battle Indonesia’s Nouldy Manakane. Sonny Boy, 32, has a 37-13-5 record, with 27 KOs, and is coming off three straight wins, all by KO and two in the first round. Manakane’s record is 25-15-1, with 15 KOs. Condes, 34, is fresh from losing an eight-round decision to Ryoichi Taguchi in Tokyo and hopes to get back on the winning track. Before losing to Taguchi, he scored back-to-back knockouts. Condes is a former IBF minimumweight champion.

Jaro said he’s hoping to save the card with a TV network coming to the rescue. “Let’s give our boxers the support they need,” said Jaro. “Denver is a future world champion. He has a big following not only in the Philippines but also in Mexico where he has won three fights. One of Denver’s fans is Mexican promoter Eddy Reynoso who handles Canelo Alvarez. We should give our boxers what they deserve. I’m praying that we don’t cancel our card on Aug. 16. We can still do it with the support of a TV network.”