MELINDO: ?THERE WILL BE NO LETDOWN THIS TIME?
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Nov 2016
CEBU CITY ? The last time ALA Promotions held an event at the historic Cebu Coliseum on July 28, 2008, it was a national event as the who's who in the sport of boxing and well known politicians in the country descended to the queen city of the south to witness the expected crowning of the country's next boxing sensation. AJ 'Bazooka' Banal, then 19 years old, was to fight for the WBA Interim world super flyweight title against visiting Rafael Concepcion of Panama. The arena, which was filled to the rafters, was oven hot and everyone was heavily perspiring going into the Banal-Concepcion main event including Golden Boy Promotions' Eric Gomez and international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz. Gomez was in town ready to award Banal with a long-term promotional contract.
Although Banal showed his exceptional skill by dominating Concepcion in the first half of the fight, the Panamanian's never say die attitude stopped the fading Banal in the 10th round and doused cold water to the hometown's fervent desire to raise another boxing hero among their midst.
The letdown also derailed the boxing resurgence of the country, who at that time was aiming to become a boxing powerhouse, after the exploits of Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr and Brian Viloria put the Philippines in the boxing map.
?I know how important this fight is so I have trained as hard as I could to make sure I'll win this fight,? Melindo, who will face Thailand's Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr for the IBF Interim world light flyweight title this Saturday at the Cebu Coliseum, 8 years and 4 months after that Banal letdown in the same venue, told the media during the final press conference of the event held at The Social Sports Bar at the plush SM Seaside City Thursday afternoon.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said he arranged the Melindo-Sakkereerin fight at the Cebu Coliseum ?to hopefully erase the stigma that happened eight years ago.?
Milan Melindo (L) and Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr (R) pose with ALA President Michael Aldeguer during Thursday's presscon at The Social Sports Bar at 3rd Floor SM Seaside City, Cebu.
L-R: Albert Pagara, Jason Pagara, Milan Melindo, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr, Jose Alfaro and Raymond Commey.
Photos by Levi Deresas.
Melindo (34-2-0, 12KOs) has the disadvantage in height, reach and age against Sakkreerin (34-4-1, 16KOs) but promised ?I will turn his advantage to my advantage,? adding ?I will try to win by knockout.?
Melindo's trainer Edmund Villamor said that boxing is not basketball where the tall guy has always the advantage. ?This is boxing and we have a plan how to nullify his height advantage,? Villamor said.
Sakkreerin meanwhile, didn't speak a lot but promised to ?have a good fight on Saturday.?
Jason Pagara, who is always on the verge to fight for a world title having been ranked No. 1 by the WBO in the super lightweight division came face to face with his opponent former world champion Jose Alfaro of Nicaragua. Alfaro divulged that his father died last Saturday in his hometown after a long sickness and dedicate Saturday's fight to his father. Jason and Alfaro will match wits for 10 rounds in the welterweight division.
Albert Pagara, who is intent on getting back in the win column after his defeat at the hands of Cesar Juarez last July in San Mateo, California, will face Raymond Commey of Ghana in a 10-round featherweight contest.
The official weighin for 'Pinoy Pride 39: The Road to Redemption' will be held at Robinson's Fuente tomorrow, Friday noon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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