PE?ALOSA FAVORS MELINDO OVER YAEGASHI
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 25 Apr 2017
OSAKA, Japan ? Former two-time world champion Gerry Pe?alosa favors Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo over Akira Yaegashi when the two meet on May 21 at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo to settle once and for all who really is the real IBF light flyweight king.
Yaegashi won the IBF world light flyweight belt on Dec. 29, 2015 from Javier Mendoza of Mexico six months after Mendoza's successful first title defense against Melindo. Melindo and Mendoza were later ordered by the IBF to fight in an eliminator for the right to face Yaegashi but Mendoza backed out before the fight date. Upon the request of Melindo's promoter Michael Aldeguer, the IBF, in July, 2016, ordered Yaegashi to face Melindo as his mandatory challenger but Yaegashi refused to fight Melindo after suffering a torn rotator cuff during his tough title defense against Martin Tecuapetla forcing the IBF to order an Interim title fight between the top contenders Melindo and Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. of Thailand which Melino won via UD in Cebu on Nov. 26, 2106. Regular champion Yaegashi (24-5-0, 12KOs) and Interim champion Melindo (35-2-0, 12KOs) will finally meet next month.
Former world champion Gerry Pe?alosa (R) poses with former two-time foe and former world champion Masamori Tokuyama at the APA Hotel Namba in Osaka, Japan April 22. Photo by Dong Secuya.
?I see it as 60-40 in favor of Melindo,? Pe?alosa said. Pe?alosa was in Osaka to support former Filipino WBO world bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales who was stripped of his title after failing to make the contracted weight but nevertheless go back home victorious after he stopped Shohei Omori in the 11th round Sunday here.
?Yaegashi is growing old and have slowed down a bit so it's a good opportunity for Milan to wrest the title from him,? said Pe?alosa who personally saw two fights of the now 34-year-old Japanese. Melindo is at his peak at age 29.
?I'd like to comeback here in Japan to watch that fight,? Pe?alosa, who fought three times in Japan and is still very popular among boxing aficionados here, added.
The Philippines is now down to three world champions after Tapales failed to retain his title: Manny Pacquiao is the WBO welterweight champion, Jerwin Ancajas holds the IBF super flyweight belt and Melindo has the IBF Interim flyweight title. Longest Filipino reigning world champion Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes will have the opportunity to raise it back to four when he faces Komgrich Nantapech this Saturday in Cebu City for the vacant IBF world flyweight crown.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 287: RYAN GARCIA FACES RUKIYA ANPO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE BUT NO GO SIGNAL FROM GOLDEN BOY YET
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 29 Nov 2024Gaballo to fight again on Dec. 18 in Bula
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Nov 202432nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships: Team Philippines wraps up successful campaign with 2 golds and 1 bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 29 Nov 2024EDWARDS VS. YAFAI + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 29 Nov 2024Some boxers have no golds at stake
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Nov 2024YAFAI: I'VE GOT MORE CHANCE OF KNOCKING HIM OUT
Fri, 29 Nov 2024DC jiu jitsu, lawn tennis bags 8 medals in BP
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Nov 2024Three Pinoy Fighters in Crucial Bouts This December
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 28 Nov 2024Camp Notes: Oscar Valdez & Emanuel Navarrete Prepared for Phoenix Firefight on December 7 LIVE on ESPN
Thu, 28 Nov 2024Mabuhay at Salamat: Long Live and Thanks
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 28 Nov 2024TODAY: Rolly Fogoum vs Obinna Mathew for WBF Cruise World Title; Toshihiko Era vs Chonlahee for ABF Belt in Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 28 Nov 2024The Final Word: Legendary Rematches of Mexican Boxing Premieres Ahead of Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez II
Thu, 28 Nov 2024Swedish heavyweight Genti Morina Set for Professional Debut in Denmark
Thu, 28 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 286: CHARLY SUAREZ, MARK MAGSAYO, JOHN RIEL CASIMERO, AND CARL JAMMIS MARTIN IN WBO RANKINGS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 27 Nov 2024Pinoy Fighter Blazen Rocili Remains Unbeaten with Dominant Victory in San Antonio, TX
Wed, 27 Nov 2024