Philippines, 09 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Cuello wants to avenge Penalosa's loss


PhilBoxing.com



Denver Cuello.

Asian Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Denver Cuello said yesterday he?s willing to drop down to 112 pounds and challenge newly-crowned IBO flyweight titleholder Maximino Flores ?anytime, anywhere? to avenge Carlo Penalosa?s defeat to the wiry Mexican.

Penalosa lost to Flores by a split seventh round technical decision for the vacant IBO crown at the TV5 Studios, Novaliches, last Sunday. Cuello was at ringside when Australian referee Garry Dean called a halt to the contest on the advice of ringside physicians Dr. Jose Rivera and Dr. Noel Napa as Penalosa was ruled unfit to continue due to an ugly cut over his left eye inflicted by an accidental headbutt.

Cuello said he?s lined up to fight for the WBC Silver championship in December but if a bout against Flores can be arranged, he?ll make it a priority. Once a WBC minimumweight title challenger, Cuello took nearly a four-year layoff to recover from two right shoulder surgeries but is now on the comeback trail. Last March, Cuello ended a long hiatus by stopping Indonesian veteran Jack Amisa in the second round. Then, last August, he halted Thai Detnarong Omkrathuk to stretch his win streak to five since losing a majority decision to China?s Xiong Chaozhong in Dubai in 2013.

?Bababa ako sa flyweight kung si Flores ang kalaban ko,? said Cuello. ?Sakto ang style ni Flores sa akin. Volume puncher siya at pasok ng pasok. No problem sa akin ?yan. Pagsugod niya, nakaabang na ako. Kukunin ko ang korona niya.?

Cuello said he doesn?t mind fighting Flores in Mexico if that?s what it takes to seal the deal. The Iloilo southpaw logged five fights in Mexico in 2010-12 and lost only once to Juan Hernandez on a disputed disqualification. His Mexican victims were Sebastian Arcos, Carlos Perez, Ganigan Lopez and Ivan Flores.

Two-time world champion and boxing promoter Gerry Penalosa said a Flores-Cuello fight would be an interesting battle. Since Flores won the IBO title in Manila, he may be persuaded to make his first defense here. Cuello, 32, can?t wait for the opportunity. He didn?t see action for close to four years until he returned to the ring last March. Cuello has now won 17 of his last 18 fights dating back to 2010.

Meanwhile, veteran international referee Silvestre Abainza lashed out at Dean for his bizarre decisions during the Flores-Penalosa bout. Dean initially stopped the contest at the end of the sixth round, ruling Penalosa unfit to continue, without consulting the ringside physicians. Dean even took to the microphone to announce his decision in the middle of the ring. But when the ringside physicians told Dean that Penalosa?s cut wasn?t serious, Dean reversed himself and ordered the fight to resume. The confusion took over five minutes to resolve and at first, Flores refused to continue fighting. The Mexican was eventually convinced to fight on but after one round, the ringside physicians examined Penalosa once more and this time, they recommended a stoppage. Dean then waved it off and the outcome went to the scorecards.

?Parang comedy ang IBO,? said Abainza. ?Walang experience sa world title fight ang referee at mga judges pati ang IBO supervisor (Steve Scott) hindi alam ang kaniyang papel pati pag-kwenta ng scorecard hindi alam. Naging pyesta lang ang boksing. Ano ba ?yan??

Dean, 68, has been a referee for 30 years. He was the third man in the ring when Filipino Ronnie Magramo captured the vacant WBF minimumweight title on a second round knockout over Wanwin Chareon of Thailand in Samut Prakan in 1994 and when Filipino Michael Dasmarinas won the vacant IBO bantamweight crown on a knockout over Karim Guerfi in Singapore last year. Despite his long career as a referee, Dean seemed unsure of himself last Sunday. He later admitted there was miscommunication but didn?t elaborate on the failed connection.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Tickets ON SALE NOW for Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia bags gold in ASEAN E-Sports chess qualifying round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Wardley vs Dubois: Heavyweight Tussle in Manchester
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Fireworks Expected as Cebu's Arañas and Noynay Rumble for WBF Silver Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis: "Nahir Albright’s Going To Be the Fourth Guy I Stop in a Row!"
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Cinco De Mayo, A Historic Celebration Of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Abne, Zhu Make Weight for IBF Eliminator in Cebu; Winner Fights Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Laurente to promote amateur boxing
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • ‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Kenia Enriquez Signs Multi-Year Contract with Latin KO Promotions
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • FM Habla, Madriaga win Armageddon for IIEE-PSME Quezon City in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor Graduates to 10-rounder this Saturday in Atlanta
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Jonas Magpantay bags P300,000 with Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer 10-Ball title win
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Abdullah Mason Returns Home for Lightweight World Title Defense against Joe Cordina July 4 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Christopher Guerrero to face Delante Johnson on July 4 at the CSU Wolstein Center in Cleveland!
    , Wed, 06 May 2026
  • Yanong and Horiike make weight in Japan for OPBF 140 lb. title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Kulog at Kidlat: Boxing, Art, Thunder and Lightning at the 3rd Pacquiao–Elorde Awards
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Camique forced to fight after food poisoning; hospitalized after losing by UD
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Tony Tolj Previews Thunderdome 54
    , Tue, 05 May 2026
  • Mexican boxing historian Eduardo Lamazón passes away at 70
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 05 May 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.