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'Wild Man' Yang Lianhui will hunt down unbeaten Cuenca in Macau showdown

Chinese fighter's camp is in confident mood ahead of world title bout against unbeaten Argentine in 'Victory at the Venetian' in Macau

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"Ik" Yang celebrates after winning the WBO Asia Pacific Super Lightweight title against Geisler Ap in Macau. Photo: Edward Wong
Unus Alladin
He's the clown prince of the ring but China's "Wild Man" Yang Lianhui says he will have the last laugh as he attempts to become king of the world in tonight's "Victory at the Venetian" at the Cotai Arena in Macau.

Yang is determined to succeed where two-time Olympic gold medallist Zou Shiming had failed, after China's golden boy lost a flyweight world title fight at the same venue four months ago.

When you can't hurt another fighter, you're in trouble because they'll just hunt you down
Justin Fortune, Yang's coach

The 30-year-old Dalian-native gets into the ring with Argentinian legend Cesar "El Distinto" Cuenca for the vacant IBF (International Boxing Federation) junior welterweight title with Yang aiming to become only the second Chinese world champion after minimum weight fighter Xiong Zhaozhong.

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Cuenca has one of the most phenomenal records in boxing - 47-0 - two short of Rocky Marciano's hallowed 49-0 and one behind Floyd Mayweather's 48-0.

But Cuenca has been installed as the 5-1 underdog by bookmakers as Yang looks set to become a superstar in the making and the new face of Chinese boxing now that Zou's career appears to be at a standstill.

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The 34-year-old Cuenca's record doesn't seem to impress Yang, who said: "So what? His record means nothing when he gets into the ring with me. Who cares if he has 46 or 47 wins?

Cesar Cuenca and Yang Lianhui at the weigh-in. Photo: Unus Alladin
Cesar Cuenca and Yang Lianhui at the weigh-in. Photo: Unus Alladin
"I heard my opponent say that he plans to bring the belt home. I can tell everyone now that I will keep the belt in China," said Yang, who tipped the scales at 139.8 pounds at yesterday's official weigh-in. Cuenca weighed 139.4 pounds.
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