Cuello to defend WBC belt vs Thai challenger

Denver "The Excitement" Cuello makes his third defense of his World Boxing Council (WBC) international minimumweight title when he faces Samartlek "3-K Battery" Chaiyonggym of Thailand on March 26, Saturday, at the Ynares Gym in Angono, Rizal. The 12-round bout between the Filipino and a dangerous Thai foe 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. A win by Cuello, currently the No. 1 ranked contender for the WBC minimuweight crown, will put him closer to challenging reigning weight division champion Kazuo Ioka of Japan. After suffering a disqualification loss against Mexican Juan Hernandez last year, Cuello has defeated four opponents. He is confident of beating the Thai challenger to defend the crown he has held since April 2009. "Ang advantage ko sa kanya (Chaiyong) ay ang lakas ko. Mahina ang stamina nya at mahihirapan syang makatagal sa laban na ito," said Cuello said. "Para sa bayan ko ang laban na ito." One of the wins by the Cabatuan, Iloilo native was a ninth-round technical knockout (TKO) victory against Indonesian Muhammad Rachman in September last year, also in defense of the WBC minimumweight belt. The 24-year-old’s last win was against Kongkrai Kiatpracha of Thailand — a victory that hiked his ring record to 25-4-6 win-loss-draw, including 15 victories by way of knockout. The Bangkok, Thailand-based Chaiyonggym (4-1-0, 1KO) enters the ring fresh from a victory over Rachman whom he defeated on points. The Cuello-Chaiyonggym match will be the headliner of a scheduled four-match event that will also feature two 10-round Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) title fights. Cebu's Boydondee Pumar (8-0-0, 2KOs) defends his PBF junior bantamweight crown against challenger Eric Rapada (13-15-15, 4KOs) of Mandaluyong City, while Iloilo City's Lionel Legada (two wins by KO) stakes his mini flyweight belt versus Butuan City’s Mark Ricablanca, who will be making his pro debut. A 10-round 118-lb bout between Jestoni Pepito of Cebu City (7-4-1, 2KOs) and Prell Tupas of Taguig City (7-7-4, 1KO) will serve as the appetizer. - Jon Perez, KY, GMA News