IBF ORDERS MELINDO-SAKKEERIN INTERIM WORLD TITLE FIGHT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Aug 2016
CEBU ? The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has ordered the Interim junior flyweight world title fight between No. 6 ranked Milan Melindo of the Philippines and No. 3 ranked Fahlan Sakkeerin Jr of Thailand after reigning world champion Akira Yaegashi of Japan, who was earlier ordered by the IBF to defend his title against Melindo, sustained an injury.
?We've just received a letter from the IBF ordering us to negotiate with the Sakkeerin camp for the Interim world title fight with Melindo after Yaegashi could not defend his title against Melindo because of injury,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer informed Philboxing.
Aldeguer said he plans to bring the Melindo-Sakkeerin fight to the Philippines in November but also said Melindo is willing to go to Thailand to face Sakkeerin in his home turf.
It has been an arduous and injury-laden road for Melindo to get another opportunity for a world title fight, and there is no guarantee that this one will push thru until the contract has been signed, sealed and delivered. Melindo, who earlier lost two world title challenges against Mexicans Juan Francisco Estrada and Javier Mendoza, was to face Mexican southpaw Carlos Fontes on Nov. 28, 2015 on Pinoy Pride 34 but Fontes got replaced four days into the fight for medical reasons and Melindo squeaked a split decision win over replacement Victor Emanuel Olivo. Melindo was then scheduled to face former tormentor Javier Mendoza, who earlier lost his title to Yaegashi, in a rematch on May 28, 2016 on Pinoy Pride 36 with the winner set to challenge champion Yaegashi. Two weeks into the fight, Mendoza withdrew because of injury and Melindo won by technical decision over replacement Maximino Flores in a foul-infested match. IBF then ordered Yaegashi to defend his title against Melindo but Yaegashi begged off because of, hold your breathe, injury. That puts Melindo now facing Sakkeerin Jr for the Interim world title fight with the winner presumably set to challenge Yaegashi afterwards.
Melindo, nicknamed 'El Metodico' for his technical skills, has a record of 34 wins and two losses with 12 wins inside the distance.
Fahlan Sakkeerin Jr, whose real name is Teerapong Uthaida, has a 31-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 16 stoppages. He lost to Katsunari Takayama of Japan by 9th round technical decision in his first world title attempt for the IBF minimumweight title on April 22, 2015 in Osaka, Japan. Since then he won four straight as junior flyweight.
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