MENDOZA?FUENTES JANUARY 10 FIGHT IS NO LONGER A TITLE BOUT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Jan 2015
Mendoza.
The latest news on the topsy-turvy story of a title defense by IBF light flyweight champion Javier ?Cobra? Mendoza is that his supposed title fight against Colombia?s Mauricio Fuentes on January 10 (Saturday) in Tijuana, Mexico has been downgraded to a non-title bout.
Boxing Scene reported that the information came from Zanfer Promotions in Mexico.
Initial reports said that Mendoza would defend his title against unranked Filipino Renan Trongco which was flatly denied by Trongco?s manager Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde after which it was reported that former world champion Erik ?El Terrible? Morales said Mendoza who he handles will defend his title against Fuentes even as ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that Milan Melindo who won a comfortable unanimous decision over No. 10 ranked Saul Juarez last November 15 in a title eliminator was scheduled to fight Mendoza in Manila on March 28 and negotiations with Zanfer were on-going.
Meantimne, Juan Carlos of Zanfer Promotions has informed ALA Promotions vice president Dennis Canete that they will confirm details on the Mendoza mandatory defense against Melindo sometime next week.
The 23 year old Mendoza has an impressive record of 18 knockouts in 22 wins nwith only 2 defeats and one draw and won the title with a dominating performance against former champion Ramon Garcia Hirales on September 20, 2014.
The 25 year old Fuentes has a record of 17-3 with 11 knockouts. He suffered a first round knockout against former IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero last May in Makati City after Casimero lost his title on the scales when he couldn?t make the weight and was forced to use ten ounce gloves but still mauled Fuentes.
Casimero moved up to flyweight and won a title eliminator against fancied Armando Santos with a smashing 2nd round knockout to earn a title shot at reigning IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand. However, promoter Sammy Gello-ani said they had agreed to step aside to allow China?s popular, undefeated Zou Shiming to fight Ruenroeng for the title on March 7 in Macau with the winner committed to defend the title against Casimero.
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