MELINDO-SAKKEERIN IBF LIGHT FLYWEIGHT INTERIM TITLE FIGHT SLATED IN CEBU ON NOV 26
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Sep 2016
LOS ANGELES ? The Milan Melindo vs Fahlan Sakkeerin Jr IBF Light Flyweight Interim world title fight has been scheduled in Cebu on Nov 26 as a headliner of ALA Promotions & ABS-CBN's 'Pinoy Pride 39' which will return to the historic Cebu Coliseum in downtown Cebu as its venue, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer has informed Philboxing.
The IBF has ordered the interim title fight between Melindo (ranked No. 6) and Sakkeerin (ranked No. 3) last month after Japanese champion Akira Yaegashi could not defend his title against Melindo due to injury.
Melindo (34-2-0, 12KOs) unsuccessfully challenged for the world title twice, against Juan Francisco Estrada's WBO/WBA flyweight titles on July 27, 2013 in Macau where he lost by decision and against Javier Mendoza's IBF light flyweight title on May 30, 2015 where he lost by a 6th round technical decision when the fight was stopped due to a cut over Mendoza's left eye sustained from a clash of heads. Since losing to Mendoza, Melindo won two straight against Victor Emanuel Olivo and Maximino Flores, both from Mexico.
Fahlan Sakkeerin Jr (31-4-1, 16KOs), whose real name is Teerapong Uthaida, 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 the last one was against Stevanus Nana Bau of Indonesia for the IBF Pan-Pacific light flyweight title whom he dispatched in the 4th round.
This will be the eight world title challenge for a Filipino this year, winning three of them so far. Johnriel Casimero won over Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand for the IBF flyweight title on May 25 in China; Marlon Tapales won over Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand for the WBO bantamweight title on July 27 in Thailand; and Jerwin Ancajas won over McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico for the IBF super flyweight title on Sep. 3 in Taguig, Philippines. Jethro Pabustan lost to Sor Singyu in February in Thailand; Richie Mepranum lost Carlos Cuadras for the WBC world super flyweight title and Jonathan Taconing lost to Ganigan Lopez on July 2 in Mexico for Lopez's WBC light flyweight title. Yet to be decided are Manny Pacquiao's challenge against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas and Melindo's against Sakkeerin on Nov. 26.
Nonito Donaire Jr is the only other reigning Filipino world champion after Donnie Nietes vacated his WBO light flyweight belt to campaign into the flyweight division.
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