Cuello hopes to move closer to dream title bout

Denver "The Excitement" Cuello moves closer to a much-needed world title bout when he faces Muay-Thai-fighter-turned-boxer Samat "3K Battery" Chaiyong of Thailand on March 26, Saturday, at the Ynares Gym in Angono, Rizal. The reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) international minimumweight champion Cuello is aching to get back in the ring since pulling off a technical knockout (TKO) win over Kongkrai Kiatpracha of Thailand last November. If Cuello gets past Chaiyong, his manager Aljoe Jaro said that his ward will face the winner of the bout between Japan's Kazuto Ioka and Mexican Juan Hernandez either in June or July. "I'm excited to get back in the ring. I have not fought since November 5 and it has been a while since my last match," said Cuello (25-4-6, 15 KOs) in Filipino in an interview on Tuesday at the Jaro boxing gym in Angono. Ioka is the reigning WBC world minimuweight champion, while Hernandez defeated Cuello on May 22, 2010 when the Filipino fighter was disqualified in the third round of their scheduled 12-round bout. Jaro also hired long-time strength and conditioning coach Christopher "Chappy" Callanta to help his ward prepare for his upcoming bout. "I'm in great shape and in good condition. I feel great with the help of my new conditioning coach," said the 24-year-old Cabatuan, Iloilo native. Cuello added that he believes the Thai challenger, being a former kickboxer, remains a dangerous foe. This will only be the 26-year-old Chaiyong's sixth professional bout in boxing (4-1-1, 1 KO), his last a victory over Rachman by points. Cuello also defeated Rachman by way of a ninth-round TKO on September 25, 2011. "Kickboxing is not an easy sport and Chaiyong has fought in more than 200 Muay Thai matches. This means that he is also in excellent condition," said Cuello, who added that his Filipino supporters and all boxing fans can expect an exciting match. "I don't want to be complacent against Chaiyong. He is also fast and fights almost the same way as Hernandez, so this will be an exciting match to see," said Cuello, who then predicted that he can stop the Thai after the sixth round. The 12-round bout between Cuello and Chaiyong will be aired on a delayed basis at 10 a.m. on Sunday on GMA 7 as part of its "Laban ng Lahi" series that will be simulcast over Super Radyo dzBB. – Jon Perez, KY, GMA News