MELINDO GETS FEDELATIN TITLE SHOT ON BANAL CARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 May 2008
Sweet-punching Milan Melindo, the 20 year old WBO Asia Pacific minimum weight champion gets a shot at the World Boxing Association Fedelatin title when he battles Panama?s Carlo ?Shangai? Melo on the undercard of the super flyweight showdown between AJ :?Bazooka? Banal and another Panamanian Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion.
Indications are the blockbuster fight card which will be another cooperative venture between the ALA Gym owned by respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, the eminent Golden Boy Promotions and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN with the preferred date being July 19 since the earlier June 21 date was regarded as too close especially since Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao would battle WBC lightweight champion David Diaz in Las Vegas on June 28.
The added good news regarding the promotion is that WBA executive vice president Gilberto Mendoza Jr who is also director of the organization?s Championship Committee plans to be at special ringside for the fights along with Golden Boy Promotions vice president Eric Gomez and well-known international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz.
Melo is 25 years old and although his record reads 18-6 with 2 knockouts he has fought some of the best in his division including former two-time world challenger Eriberto ?Yukka? Gejon whom he lost to by a fourth round technical decision in a clash for the vacant Fedelatin title on January 31, 2004 when the fight had to be stopped after Gejon suffered a nasty gash due to an accidental head-butt.
In his last fight, Melo scored a unanimous six round decision over Edwin Diaz on December 1, 2007. One year earlier Melo lost a ninth round technical decision to Japan?s Katsunari Takayama in a WBA minimum weight interim title fight on November 7, 2006. He also dropped a unanimous twelve round decision to Juan Jose Landaeta in a title eliminator in May 2005 but won a majority decision over Colombia?s Ronald Barrera who lost on points in an IBF title eliminator to Raul ?Rayito? Garcia last December with Garcia scheduled to fight champion Florante Condes of the Philippines next month in Mexico.
Milendo who is a stylish young fighter who throws nifty combinations and although he is not a hard puncher he is an excellent boxer and a pleasure to watch. Melindo has a record of 15-0 with 4 knockouts.
He won the WBO Asia Pacific title with an impressive unanimous twelve round decision over Thailand?s Nuapayak Sakkririn on October 6, 2007 and has had one successful title defense against Indonesia?s Jack Amisa last December 2 before scoring a comfortable ten round decision over another tough Indonesian Sofyan Efendi last March 7.
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