by Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

WBC minimumweight Silver champion and mandatory challenger Denver Cuello is determined to win the world title after waiting two years for a crack at the crown currently held by China’s Xiao Zhao Zhong at Hall No. 8 of the Dubai Trade Center which seats 3,000 this Friday.

In an overseas telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard from the United Arab Emirates, Cuello’s manager/trainer Aljoe Jaro said Cuello has no weight problems and looked good in his  six round sparring session last Friday. He said they are being very well taken care of by KO Promotions who some years ago hosted a fight card headlined by ALA Promotions Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Milan Melindo.

The hard-hitting southpaw and the Chinese champion came face to face last Friday in what has been described as a historic title fight being the first world championship in Dubai which is a hub of sports events and is known as “The wonder in the UAE.”

Zhong won the world title in Kunming, China last November 24 when he scored a unanimous twelve round decision over Javier Martinez Resendiz after Cuello agreed to step aside for $25,000 following an appeal from WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman who was eager to break into the vast potential of China.

Zhong admits that Cuello is “a very dangerous rival”  and that he has to stay focused in the fight for which he has trained very hard, including a training stint in Thailand.

Senior reporter Alaric Gomes of Gulf News quoted Cuello who said “I’ve waited for the past three years for this moment. I’ve always wanted to fight a top contender and now finally Dubai has made my dream come true. I’ve been training for the past eight weeks now and I feel I canm beat him.”

Zhong, the only world boxing champion from China vowed he would stand up to the challenge. He said “I’ve been training and I’m feeling good coming to Dubai for the first time. June 28 is going to be the most important date for boxing in China as I intend to retain my WBC crown.”

The champion has a record of 20-4-1 with 11 knockouts while Cuello has a record of 33-4-6 with 21 knockouts providing an indication of his punching power.

Cuello earned the title shot when he won the WBC Silver belt in a title eliminator in which he scored a smashing 2nd round knockout of Mexico’s fancied Ganigan Lopez in May last year.