Will Cuello be the first to KO Rachman?

Former IBF minimumweight champ Muhammad Rachman is now in his seventeenth year as a professional fighter. He is a hardened veteran of 75 fights (62W-8L-5D, 31 KO?s) and has never been knocked out. Filipino boxing fans are very familiar with him. Rachman made three successful defenses before he lost his world title to Florante Condes by split decision three years ago in Jakarta. He then lost to Milan Melindo last year in Cebu by unanimous decision. Rachman?s last win was in June 28, 2008, against Edrin ?The Sting? Dapudong, by ten round unanimous decision.

In his prime years as a rising prospect, the Indonesian has beaten Filipino contenders like Benjie Sorolla, Noel Tunacao and Bert Batawang. A couple of months after losing to Melindo, Rachman lost in his bid to win another world title against WBC strawweight champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand. The Thai?s effective counterpunching neutralized the Indonesian?s aggression. Accidental headbutts twice in round seven and round eleven rendered the profusely bleeding challenger unable to continue. Oleydong won by technical decision as he was comfortably ahead on the scorecards.

Denver ?The Excitement? Cuello (21W-4L-5 D, 12 KO's) of Iloilo is young, hungry and eager to bounce back from the unfortunate disqualification loss to Juan Hernandez of Mexico. Cuello had the Mexican down in the third round but hit him again when he was on the floor. Cuello has since won against Nelson Llanos (KO7) and Arnel Tadena (TKO 4). But Cuello would like nothing more than to stop a former world champ in their WBC international 105 lb division title fight.

Cuello won the title in 2009 by 4th round TKO over Hiroshi Matsumoto of Japan. He can dispatch an opponent quickly; it took him 52 seconds to stop knock out Samuel Apuya in the Brian Viloria vs Carlos Tamara fight card last January. Can he be the first to knock out the Indonesian Rock Breaker?

Rachman, like all aging champs, could still have one good fight left inside him. He was still able to give Melindo, who is seventeen years his junior, one hell of a fight. Rachman could make things very interesting for Cuello and the boxing fans at the MSU IT Gym in Iligan City this September 25.

P.S.: Fight fans can catch the Philippine TV broadcast on GMA on the 26th.

(Photo above: Cuello (left) and Rachman)