MELINDO RETAINS TITLE WITH SPLIT DECISION VICTORY OVER BUDLER
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Sep 2017
CEBU CITY ? Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo of the Philippines showcased his superior boxing skill highlighted by a knockdown score in the final round to retain his IBF world super flyweight crown over Hekkie Budler of South Africa in front of the hometown crowd at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino Saturday night.
Judge Glenn Trowbridge had 115-112 and Takeo Harada 117-110 for Melindo but Carl Zappia scored the bout 115-113 for Budler.
Melindo (37-2-0, 13KOs) landed the cleaner and more telling punches throughout the match as everytime Budler tries to penetrate inside Melindo always gets the better of the exchanges. In the 6th round, Melindo was cut with a headbutt in his left eyebrow as the round came to a close and fought bloodied in the remainder of the fight. Another cut inflicted by what appeared to be an intentional headbutt by Budler in the 10th round compounded Melindo's trouble who later said after the fight that the blood all over his face had hampered him badly. The referee stopped the fight several times to check on Melindo's cut.
Budler, sensing that he was behind in the scorecards, went for broke in the last three rounds but as a result he kissed the canvas in the 10th round courtesy of a Melindo combination.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Martin joins Pinoy invasion
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 16 May 2024Media Workout: Fury & Usyk T-3 Days From Making Heavyweight History
Thu, 16 May 2024ESPN and Top Rank Present DAZN on ESPN+ PPV Event: Undisputed Heavyweight Title Showdown Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk
Thu, 16 May 2024FIERRO AND RIVERA LAND TITLE FIGHTS IN PUERTO RICO
Thu, 16 May 2024Tayden Beltran vs Cesar Villarraga Headlines CBN Promotions June 22 Show
Thu, 16 May 2024Puerto Rican National Champion Carlos De León Castro Signs with Boxlab Promotions
Thu, 16 May 2024Cavite tops Cagayan in Armageddon
Thu, 16 May 2024The Past Week in Action 13 May 2024: Lomachenko Stops Kambosos; Guevara Edges Andrew Moloney; Tapales KOs Jangkaew in 1
By Eric Armit, Wed, 15 May 2024Denver, New York Overwhelm Semis Foes; One Win Away from W-E Conf Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 15 May 2024Misamis joins PSL Mindanao Regional Finals
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 15 May 2024Mexican Boxing Legends Rally Behind Emanuel Navarrete's Historic Bid to Become a Four-Division World Champion
Wed, 15 May 2024Legendary Panama Al Brown Inducted into NYSBHOF
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 15 May 2024Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk Make Grand Arrivals ahead of Saturday's UNDISPUTED SHOWDOWN
Wed, 15 May 2024Devon Young Has Record Setting Night in Team Combat League with Two Stoppages in the same evening
Wed, 15 May 2024PIÑEIRO AND ORTIZ PEN CO-PROMOTIONAL DEALS WITH MATCHROOM
Wed, 15 May 2024