Cuello wins, Jaro bows out in Osaka

Four Filipino fighters had mixed fortunes in Japan over the weekend.

WBC No. 1 ranked contender Denver ‘The Excitement’ Cuello kept his lofty world ranking when he beat Takashi Kunishige of Japan by 10-round majority decision last Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

Cuello scored a knockdown in the second round but could not finish off the Japanese. Cuello’s manager and promoter Aljoe Jaro told  CDN that Cuello was basically fighting with only one hand.

“He injured his shoulder last year when he beat Ivan Meneses in Mexico. I was worried it might recur if he throws his right very hard because we have been promised a world title shot,” Jaro said in his e-mail.

One judge scored the fight, 95-95 while two judges had it for the Filipino at 96-93, 97-92. Cuello (33W-4L-6D, 21 KOs) is looking forward to facing the winner of the WBC world minimumweight title fight between champion Xiong Zhao Zhong of China and Carlos Ortega of Panama.

Cuello’s stablemate, former WBC flyweight ruler Sonny Boy Jaro lost to Japanese Hiroyuki Hisataka by unanimous decision. A displeased Jaro said Sonny Boy will bounce back in his next bout.

This card was promoted by Kameda Promotions and was headlined by WBA world bantamweight champion Koki Kameda of Japan who retained his belt by split decision over Panomroonglek Kayainghadaogym of Thailand.

Meanwhile, in a separate venue still in Osaka, Mark Anthony Geraldo of Bukidnon knocked out Hirofumi Mukai of Japan in two rounds. Geraldo fought here in Cebu at the Hoops Dome last year and beat Jerwin Ancajas by majority decision for the WBO Youth Asia-Pacific super flyweight title. Mukai lost to Rocky Fuentes by unanimous decision in an OPBF flyweight title fight two years ago.

At the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo last Saturday, Roli Gasca of Barili, Cebu settled for a majority draw against Akifumi Shimoda of Japan.

Shimoda is a former WBA world champion in the superbantamweight division while Gasca is a former PABA and OPBF regional title  holder.