Return of the Champions: Cuello and Jaro Back in Action March 8 in Angono, Rizal

By Carlos Costa

Highland Boxing Promotions aims at thrilling fans once again with Return of the Champions, its coming televised fight show featuring former WBC Silver titlist “The Excitement” Denver Cuello and former WBC World Champion Sonny Boy Jaro against tough Indonesian foes Saturday March 8 at Angono Stadium in Rizal Province, Philippines, 30 Km east of Manila.

In the main event, popular minimumweight Denver Cuello (36-5-6, 24 KO’s), the brave young warrior who battled a 12-round world-title clash in Dubai with one detached shoulder, is back in action after an almost 4-year hiatus, aiming at making up for the missed time.  

The talented Cuello, now 32, will take on veteran Indonesian 105-pounder Jack Amisa, a combatant of 68 wars who does not know the meaning of the word fear.

In the co-main feature, Sonny Boy Jaro (44-14-5, 31 KO’s), a former WBC world champion  — as well as Linear, and Ring Magazine champion  —   defies the snows of time by climbing to the square ring to engage the experienced Frans Damur Palue (15-21-3, 10 KO’s) of Sidoarjo, Indonesia.  

Known years ago as the “Filipino Cinderella Man,” Sonny Boy Jaro, 36, won his green & golden world-title belt back in early 2012 by ending the long tenure as world belt-holder of then “WBC Champion of the Decade” Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (91-5-2, 47 KO’s) in Thailand; but lost it in a split decision later that year in Japan to Toshiyuki Igarashi (23-3-3, 12 KO’s).

“I am an experienced boxer, strong as a rock,” feels Sonny Boy Jaro, who will engage in battle for the first time in a year.     His last combat was a TKO win over an unheralded foe early last year, and fans want to see what will Sonny Boy against the more difficult Indonesian man of action.

In featherweights, undefeated hard-hitting KJ “The Ipugo” Natuplag (7-0-1, 6 KO’s) from Cabarroguis in Quirino Province, clashes against the more-experienced Robert “Battlin’ Bert” Udtohan (24-5-3, 15 KO’s) of Digos City, Davao del Sur, in a classic match between the unbeaten, promising young gun and the matured boxer.  Who will prevail?

EXCITING WOMEN’S BOXING

In girls boxing, cute Filipina woman warrior “Chay” Carleans Rivas (6-6-4, 0 KO’s) of Rizal Province rumbles for a second time 24 year-old Floryvic Montero (4-6, 2 KO’s) of Angeles City, Pampanga in a 6-rounder in the flyweight division.   The two women already fought an entertaining, exciting non-stop battle in Makati back in 2017 with Carleans winning a close hard-fought majority decision.    Who will win this time around?

In more girls action, Jessebelle Pagaduan (10-1, 4 KO’s), back in the ring after her win by points last July in Bangkok, Thailand, this time faces fellow Filipina Aisah “D’ Striker” Alico (7-10, 5 KO’s) of The City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro.   The two southpaw women will collide in a 6-rounder in the 105-pound weight class.

MORE HIGHLAND BOXING ACTION FIGHTS

Furthermore, tough 112-pounder Romeo Tenorio (4-3-2, 3 KO’s) of Sarangani Province climbs the ring of the Angono Stadium to square off Camiguin Lion King Pit Anacaya (9-26-2, 2 KO’s).  Their 6-chapter melee is in the flyweight division.

Also, 20 year-old featherweight MJ “Young Gun” Uduna from the rich and fertile Rice Terraces of mountainous Ifugao Province lands in Angono on the shores of the Laguna Lake to rumble strong-looking Marlon Bacalando (0-2-2, 0 KO’s) of Makati in a scheduled four-chapter saga that promises total action.

Plus, southpaw journeyman Edison Berwela (16-41-8, 5 KO’s) of Muntinlupa, Metro Manila exchanges knuckles against fearless Diosdado “Dado” Cabintoy (15-9-2, 8 KO’s) of Parañaque City.    Both men land in here from consecutive loses, and they want to stop that red in their records.  Who will succeed?  This mission is in the super bantamweight division.

In addition, 25 year-old super fly Arlon Batingal (8-9, 4 KO’s) of Kawalogang Kompostela in southeastern Mindanao fights southpaw journeyman Powell Balaba (9-28-1, 5 KO’s) of the paradise Visaya Island Province of Bohol.   Their four round clash is in the 115-pound weigh class.

And that is not all.  

In an thrilling supporting bout, Ador Torres southpaw Ador Torres (1-1-1, 0 KO’s) of La Trinidad, Benguet Province, clashes against more experienced hard-swinging Filipino-Indian “Sher-e-Punjab” (Punjabi Lion) Prabhjot Singh (7-3-1, 7 KO’s) in a 4-stanza symphony of leather in the super welterweight division.      

Return of Champions March 8 at Agono Stadium is a production of award-winning promoters Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Team and Darwin Miller A. Depay, director of DMAD Boxing Promotions, in cooperation with the Naris Singwancha Foundation.

Boxing fans in the Metro Manila area are cordially invited to this entertaining boxing event in the Municipality of Angono, a popular town know as “The Art Capital of the Philippines.”

Angono is known like that because of being the hometown of celebrated musician Lucio San Pedro and visual arts talent Carlos “Botong” Francisco; a well as for being the site of the famous Angono Petroglyphs, the oldest known work of art in this beloved Nation of the Philippines.

The author Carlos Costa is a Panama-born fight reporter living in Cebu City, Philippines.    Carlos can be reached by email carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp/viber +639184538152.

About Author