Cuello uses past hardships as motivation for every fight

Denver Cuello will once again use his past hardships as motivation when he climbs the ring on Saturday to face Muhammad Rachman at the Mindanao State University (MSU) Gymnasium in Iligan City. The southpaw Cuello, the fifth of six children, grew up in poverty in Cabatuan town in Iloilo. His father worked in a printing press while his mother, a former teacher, died a few days before his World Boxing Council (WBC) International minimumweight title defense in 2007. "I really wanted to help my family get out of poverty. That is why I strive hard and use all my past experiences as motivation every time I fight," said Cuello in Filipino during Wednesday's press launch for his scheduled 10-round match against the veteran fighter from Blitar, Indonesia. Cuello, who holds a 21-4-5 win-loss-draw record, including 12 knockouts, scored a fourth-round technical knockout win over Japanese Hiroshi Matsimoto last year to snatch the WBC International minimuweight crown. He faces Rachman, the top contender for the World Boxing Council (WBC) title, on Saturday, but the fight will be aired on Sunday, 10 a.m. on GMA 7. Rachman, a former holder of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title, will be a tough foe for the 23-year-old Cuello since the Indonesian reigned in the said division for three years and successfully defended his crown three times before yielding the belt to Filipino Florante Condes of Romblon. Rachman has fought 75 times and compiled a ring record of 62 wins (32 by knockout), eight losses and five draws. A win by Cuello will install him as the top challenger for the WBC World 105-lb. minimumweight belt.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Cuello has gone a long way since starting to fight in town fiestas as a gangly 9-year-old. "I would earn P100 for every win and P75 every time I lose. I didn't expect that I would get to where I am now," said Cuello, who will use his speed against the 38-year-old Rachman. The Filipino pug even stopped boxing in 2000 and worked as a jeepney conductor and barker for four years to help his family. "But I really loved boxing. Since I was a kid, I dreamed of following the footsteps of my idol, Onyok Velasco," Cuello added. That's why when he heard the news that boxing promoter Aljoe Jaro was looking for new boxers, he used a one-way ticket to Manila to try out and change his fortune. Cuello trained for two months straight and endured 138 rounds of sparring against bantamweight Marvin Campus, lightflyweight Sonny Boy Jaro and super featherweight Allan Tañada under the watchful eye of chief trainer George Sol. "I really prepared hard for this fight. I think I can score a win so I can get a chance for a world championship title fight," he said. "I watched some of his fights and already saw his weaknesses." Cuello fought 60 times as an amateur and even won two gold medals in a tournament in Western Visayas. He represented Region VI in the Philippine National Open in Palawan and the Palarong Pambansa. – RCJ, Jon Perez, GMANews.TV