Cuello To Fight For Vacant WBC Title

ABS-CBNnews.com
July 02, 2012
Updated July 03, 2012 8:13 AM

Manila, Philippines - Filipino boxer Denver Cuello earned a shot at the World Boxing Council (WBC) strawweight championship after erstwhile champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan chose to relinquish the belt.

Ioka won the WBC title in February 2011 and made history when he unified it with the World Boxing Association belt last month by defeating countryman Akira Yaegashi.

But Ioka's representatives informed Boxing Scene that the Japanese boxer has decided to relinquish the WBC belt, rendering it vacant.

Cuello, who has been calling Ioka out for some time now, will fight for the vacant belt against Thai boxer Wanheng Menayothin.

Cuello, with a record of 31 wins, four losses and six draws, and Menayothin, unbeaten in 23 bouts, are the top rated contenders of the WBC.

Cuello was suppposed to be Ioka's next mandatory title defense, but this was rendered moot with the Japanese fighter's decision to vacate the championship.

In an interview with Joaquin Henson of the Philippine Star, Cuello's manager Aljoe Jaro said he will try to bring the Cuello-Menayothin bout to Manila.

"Denver is the mandatory challenger, so if Ioka vacates, he should be given first option to promote the fight for the vacant title, " Jaro said.

"If it's Wanheng, I'll try to bring the fight to Manila. If I can't get support for a fight in Manila, I'll get Canelo Promotions of Mexico or Golden Boy to take it to Las Vegas," he said, adding that Cuello may get to fight in the undercard of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez's September 15 fight card.

Cuello is currently the WBC silver strawweight champion, and became the mandatory challenger when he knocked out Carlos Perez in the first round of their bout in October 2011.

Original Story: ABS-CBNnews.com --->>> Cuello to fight for vacant WBC title