By Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo
Smiling from ear-to-ear, listening to a live alternative band play his requested song while chewing on his favorite "Crispy Pata" dish under a bamboo hut inside his favorite local restaurant in Binangonan, Rizal, it's safe to say that becoming a World Champion has done little to change Denver Cuello and his ways.
Nicknamed "The Excitement", the 24-year-old southpaw Cuello is one of Philippine boxing's best kept secrets. Despite his impressive first round TKO victory over Mexican opponent Carlos Perez in Mexico last October 15 to grab the WBC Silver (Interim) minimumweight belt, Cuello has yet to step out of the shadows of some of the more known Filipino boxers like Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Brian Viloria.
The highly-skilled and explosive Cuello has become an instant hit in Mexico under the guidance of his manager and promoters Aljoe Jaro and Canelo Promotions. "When I came to Mexico, I didn't expect the way the fans responded to me. The Mexicans were cheering my name, and over there they call me 'Prince', my son's name, because that's what's written on my trunks," Cuello told me in an interview.
That's why his passionate and hardworking promoter Jaro is eager to showcase his ward in front of Filipino boxing fans anew, and add Cuello in the undercard of the highly-anticipated championship showdown between Giovanni Segura and Brian Viloria at the Ynares Sports Complex on December 11.
"I already spoke to Solar and told them that we definitely want Denver to fight on that undercard," Jaro told me in Manila this week. Canelo Promotions and Jaro's plan for Cuello is to unify the minimum weight belts in 2012, while making him a household name.
As for Cuello, he's ready to fight anybody his promoter tells him to fight, wherever the venue may be. "I am ready to challenge all the champions in my division. I want to show them that I'm not only a small fighter with a big punch, that I also possess a big heart."
Cuello is definitely a fighter to watch out for in 2012. He is the complete package in terms of skill, power, intellect topped by his aggressive and crowd-friendly fighting style.
