SPORTSCLOPEDIA 13: MILAN MELINDO WINS OPBF SILVER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Jan 2023
Former world light flyweight champion Milan “El Metodico” Melindo showed his vintage fighting form when he defeated Chaiwat Buatkrathok of Thailand via unanimous decision and in the process winning the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) silver featherweight title on Wednesday evening at Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
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After the bell sounded at the end of ten rounds, the judges' scorecards were announced as follows: Elmo Coloma and Arnel Pasion saw it 98-92, while Edwin Barrientos had it 97-93, all in favor of Melindo.
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His recent victory signaled that Melindo is on the right path to return as a World Boxing Council (WBC) contender hoping to get another crack at the world championship. He improved his professional record to 39 wins with 14 knockouts and 5 losses, while Buatkrathok sank to 38 wins and 25 knockouts, suffering his 8th loss.
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Milan Melindo, age 34, of Cagayan de Oro, held the IBF and IBO light-flyweight titles in 2017. Nicknamed, El Metodico and Milenyo, was a former standout of the defunct ALA Boxing Gym. He was shorter at 5' 2" and is an orthodox fighter.
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Melindo won the IBF light flyweight title by beating Japanese Akira Yaegashi by first round TKO on May 21, 2017 at Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan. He defended the title against South Africa's Hekkie Budler by split decision on September 16, 2017 at Waterfront Hotel and Casino, Cebu City.
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Then Melindo lost the IBF light flyweight title and failed to win the WBA and vacant The Ring light flyweight titles when he was defeated by Japan's Ryoichi Taguchi by unanimous decision on December 31, 2017 at Ota City General Gymnasium, Ota, Tokyo, Japan.
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Chaiwat Buatkratho, age 30, of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, a southpaw, is taller at 5′ 5½″. He was a former WBC Youth bantamweight champion. He was also defeated by former WBA interim bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo via sixth round stoppage on December 14, 2019 at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque City.
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The 2023 Southeast Asian Games, the 32nd edition of the SEA Games, will be held from 5 to 17 May 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Philippines will be comprised of about 800 athletes and 1,200-strong delegation to the 13-day event that scheduled 608 events in 49 sports, which was larger than the 530 events in 56 sports in the 2019 edition the Philippines hosted and the 526 events in 40 sports in Vietnam last year.
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The year 2023 will be one of the busiest in Philippine sports. Among the list of high-profile sports competitions to be participated in by the Philippines include the FIBA World Cup to be co-hosted here, the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, and the different qualifying tournaments for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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In the Asian competition, the postponed 19th Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou, China, while the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand will happen, together with the Cambodia SEA Games.
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Beginning with the 20th Asian Games, athletes are now required to meet qualifying standards similar to the Olympic qualifiers, and the usual process of just naming the members of the delegation no longer applies.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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