Denver Cuello knocks out Thai opponent in 9th Round

WBC International minimumweight titlist Filipino boxer Denver "The Excitement" Cuello stunned Thai contender Samat Chaiyong with a 9th-round technical knockout and thus winning the fight held at the Ynares Gym in Angono, Rizal on March 26.

Samat used the entire ring to circle out of harm’s way but Cuello caught up with him in the fourth, landing a series of powerful lefts to the Thai’s head.

The Thai tried everything to stop Cuello’s attack in the fifth to eighth rounds but got trapped in a corner in the ninth and absorbed a hail of punches, forcing referee Bruce McTavish to stop the fight.

Denver Cuello, 24, suffered a loss by disqualification in his fight against Juan Hernandez last year.

Undefeated superbantamweight Ernie Sanchez beat Jog Alim via an eighth round TKO in the main supporting bout.

Alim hit the deck in the opening round but slowly worked his way back into the fight, only to fall anew in the eighth after a series of shots by Sanchez.

source: Malaya.com.ph

Denver Cuello's photo courtesy of Google Images

Azkals need to win against Bangladesh to advance

After their last two games ended up in draws, the Philippine Football Team aka the Philippine Azkals cannot settle for anything else but to win their last group qualifying match against the Bangladesh team at the Aung San Stadium in Rangoon, Myanmar this Friday, March 25.

Azkals' two points (one point for each of the two previous games) currently make them third in Group A with two points behind Bangladesh (three points) and Palestine (four points). However only the top 2 teams will advance to the main draw of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup next year, making the Bangladesh fight a very crucial one for the Azkals.

To be held at 5 p.m. (Manila time), the Philippines-Bangladesh match will be held simultaneously with Myanmar-Palestine tiff in another venue to avoid manipulation of results.

Again, the Azkals cannot afford losing or settling for a draw since it would me the end of their campaign.

A victory will give them an additional 3 points allowing them to take a spot to the next round regardless of the outcome of the other match.