MELINDO WON?T UNDERESTIMATE IBF CHAMPION MENDOZA, PROMISES A GOOD FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 May 2015
Former flyweight title challenger Milan Melindo won?t underestimate IBF light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza when he gets a second chance at a world title in Mexico on May 31, Manila Time.
In an overseas telephone conversation with the New Standard/boxingmirror.com, Melindo said Mendoza ?is a fighter and he?s good? even as he predicted their title clash will be ?a good fight.?
Melindo said he had trained long and hard for this second crack at a world title with two months training in the Philippines and two additional months at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles and has had ?no problems and is feeling good.?
Trainer Edito ?Ala? Villamor told us that they will leave today for Mexico and that Melindo is in ?great condition? and they have high hopes that his hard work in the gym will pay off on fight night.
Well known strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson has been working with Melindo and if his work with WBO light flyweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes is any indication, then Melindo should be in great shape.
Edito?s brother Edmund Villamor had earlier told us that they had watched tapes of Javier Mendoza and indicated he is a fighter who likes to come forward all the time which is the kind of opponent Milan likes to face because he could exploit his counter-punching ability.
Edmund Villamor believes Melindo has a good chance of winning the IBF title even though Mendoza will enjoy a hometown advantage.
The 27 year old Melindo has a record of 32 wins as against 1 loss with 12 wins coming by way of knockout.
His only loss was against the tough and talented Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada on July 27, 2013 at the Cotai Arena in Macau in a WBO/WBA flyweight title bout with Estrada who had earlier won the title with a close, split decision over two division world champion Brian Viloria also at the Cotai Arena in Macau on April 6, 2013.
Viloria did well in the first half of the fight but then inexplicably tried to slug it out with Estrada which cost him the title.
Melindo made the same mistake against Estrada who appeared to get stronger as the fight wore on.
It was a good fight until Melindo tried to slug it out with the hard-hitting Estrada and was dropped in the 11th round en route to a unanimous decision loss.
Melindo earned the title shot against Estrada with a 4th round TKO of Indonesia?s Tommy Seran on April 6, 2013.
The 24 year old Mendoza who has a record of 23-2-1 with 19 knockouts won the title against veteran Ramon Garcia Hirales whom he dropped twice with wicked body shots en route to a unanimous points decision on September 20, 2014.
However, ALA Promotions patron, the respected Tony Aldeguer said Hirales was past his prime as shown in his next fight when he lost by a 10th round TKO to Filipino Jonathan Taconing and he believes that Melindo who is looking ?better than ever before? has a good chance of winning the world title.
Photo: Melindo (R) in action against Rosas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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