Cuello, Rachman dispute world title

DENVER Cuello has gotten over his controversial third-round loss by disqualification to Juan Hernandez last May and is looking forward to his next fight.

Cuello said his mind is now focused on his coming bout with Indonesian boxer Muhammad Rachman on Saturday at the Mindanao State University’s Iligan Institute of Technology gymnasium.

Cuello said he had already studied Rachman’s fighting style after watching two recent fights of the Indonesian – one against fellow Filipino boxer Florante Condes and the other against Thailand’s Oleydong Sithsamerchai.

“Tuwing hapon, napapanood ko ang laban niya sa mga CDs na nakuha ko. May gulang nang konti dahil beterano sa laban,” said Cuello during an interview with sportswriters at the GMA-7 Network headquarters in Kamuning, Quezon City.

Cuello, who has a 21-4-5 win-draw-loss record, including 12 knockouts, is gunning for the World Boxing Council minimumweight crown against Rachman in their 12-round encounter.

The 23-year-old Cuello is coming off two consecutive wins. He knocked out Nelson Llanos last May in Angono and also won via a fourth-round technical knockout victory over Arnold Tadena last Aug. 1 in Bacolod.

He would have preferred a rematch with Hernandez, who was declared winner in their WBC minimumweight title final eliminator last May by disqualification after Cuello threw a punch at his Mexican rival while he was down on the canvas.

But Hernandez’s camp didn’t want a rematch after the protest of Cuello’s manager, Aljoe Jaro, was upheld.

The 39-year-old Rachman is a veteran who has compiled a total of 62 fights, including 31 by knockouts, eight losses and five draws.

He recently lost by unanimous decision to Filipino Milan Melindo last March, and to Sitsamerchai by technical decision last May.

Peter Atencio, Manila Standard Today