by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Manager/trainer and promoter Aljoe Jaro who met with World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman during the opening ceremonies of the 52nd Annual Convention of the premier professional boxing organization at the plush Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas continues to push for a world title fight for No. 4 ranked minimumweight contender Denver Cuello.

Aljoe Jaro informed the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that he will “discuss the possible world title fight on Wednesday during the ratings meeting at the Montego Room of the Mirage Hotel.”

The current champion is undefeated Wanheng Menayothin of Thailand who won the title when the corner of Oswaldo Novoa of Mexico threw in the towel in the 9th round enabling Manyothin to grab the 105 pound title  last November 6.

Cuello, the former minimumweight title challenger is coming off  an impressive 3rd round TKO over Indonesian journeyman Sammy Hagler last December 9.

Determined to put on a dominating performance in order to strengthen his chances of a world title shot, Cuello demonstrated his famed punching power as well as hand-speed and accurate punching and good footwork, dropping Hagler in the very first round of the scheduled ten round bout with a cracking left hook.

After he staggered Hagler with a vicious uppercut and a left hook in round two, the Indonesian was saved by the bell but not for long as Cuello caught Hagler with a hard body shot and then connected with a series of punches that resulted in Hagler losing his mouthpiece before Cuello clubbed him with a left to the side of the head followed by a three-punch combination which sent Hagler staggering backwards forcing referee Virgilio Garcia to call a halt at 2:39 of round three.

With the win Cuello moved to 35-5-6 with 23 knockouts.

Cuello had dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to China’s Xiong Zhao Zhong at the International Trade Center in Dubai on June 28, 2013 after the Filipino suffered a dislocated rotator cuff early in the fight and was forced to fight with one hand.