By Ben Jacobs

As was recently announced, Jesús Cuellar (27-1, 21 KOs) will defend his WBA featherweight title on December 5 against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo (26-4, 16 KOs).  The Argentine is once again preparing for the bout in the United States, which has been his home for just over two years now.  Coming off the back of an impressive stoppage of former world champion Vic Darchinyan, Cuellar is aware that he has to train just as hard for a repeat performance.

“He [Oquendo] is a very good fighter who has fought some good opponents,” Cuellar conceded when speaking to BoxingScene.com.

“We are here in Los Angeles preparing hard to defend my title for the fifth time.”

Oquendo enters the bout hot off a win over another former world champion, Jhonny González.  Naturally, Jesús recognises that his opponent will be full of confidence.

“He comes in good form but that’s going to end when he faces me.  But he’s a good fighter, I respect him.

“I feel good having beaten a fighter like Darchinyan, I trained really hard for that.

“I’ll fight anyone to be honest.  First I want to get through my fight on December 5 and then we’ll see what happens.  I didn’t see [Lee] Selby (IBF featherweight champion) against [Fernando] Montiel.  I tend to only watch my rivals once the fight is done, and then I prepare for him.”

‘El Forastero’ is one of Argentina’s elite boxers and one of three world champions at this present time.  One can sense the pride he feels in representing his country abroad, particularly continuing the lineage of world champions.

“I feel great, I took a great decision to come here to the United States.  I’m very happy.  This will be my fifth training camp here and I’m pleased with the team that I have around me.

“I’ve always felt that I’m one of the best from Argentina and I think that this is my time.  I’m going to make the most of it and I hope to be on top for a while.”