By Miguel Rivera
Argentine puncher Jesus Cuellar will be back as soon as possible in 2017 - but in the super featherweight division.
Back on December 10th in California, Cuellar lost the World Boxing Association "regular" featherweight title to Mexico's Abner Mares.
Cuellar has spent most of his career at the featherweight limit, and over time it became increasingly difficult for him to reach 126 pounds, which is why he's been thinking about a move to 130 pounds in search of new opportunities.
"He's already determined to go up to 130 pounds, because, as everyone knows, he already had a hard time making 126 pounds, a division he's been competing for throughout his career," said Sebastian Contursi, his adviser, to ESPN Deportes. "The physical recovery to rehydrate after the weigh-in did not work, which is logical.
Jesus was the WBA featherweight champion since August 2013 when he beat Claudio Marrero to win the interim belt, and he defended that title against such characters as Rico Ramos, Juan Manuel López and Rubén Tamayo.
Once he was elevated to the position of regular division champion, Cuellar beat Vic Darchinyan and Jonathan Oquendo before going up against Ábner Mares at the USC Galen Center in California, and falling on the cards by way of points in a majority decision.
"At the moment there are no concrete plans, since it is very recent. We have to talk to Al Haymon and analyze what path can be taken, although Cuéllar is willing to face any of the big names that are available," Contursi said.
The 29-year-old fighter holds a professional record 28-2 and 21 knockouts.