MELINDO, RACHMAN BATTLE FOR WORLD RECOGNITION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 07 Mar 2009
Milan Melindo will face former IBF world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia in a non-title fight at the Waterfront Hotel on March 14, 2009. Dubbed as ?Judgement at the Waterfront,? it will be a ten-round encounter that will serve as a tune up for a future shot at the world title.
Melindo, who just turned 21 years old, has an immaculate record with 17 wins and no defeats including 5 wins by knockout. Nicknamed after typhoon Milenyo, he is ably trained and managed by Antonio L. Aldeguer. He is ranked No.1 WBO, No. 7 WBC, No. 4 WBA and No. 11 IBF contender.
Melindo won the WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title over Thai boxer Nuapayak Sakkriprin in Cagayan de Oro City on October 6, 2007. He also won the WBA inter-continental light-flyweight title over Panamian Carlos Melo at the Cebu Coliseum on July 26, 2008. But the ALA Gym standout prefers to remain in the minimumweight division as of the moment.
Rachman is already 37 years old and has a record of 62-6-5 with 31 knockouts. He lost his IBF title by a split decision to our very own Florante Condes in Jakarta on July 7, 2007.
The veteran is currently No. 3 IBF and No. 12 WBC contender. He was never been knocked out in his losses. In his last fight the Indonesian warrior scored a unanimous decision in a fight that lasted ten rounds against Filipino Edren Dapudong in Jakarta last June 28, 2008.
Rachman?s manager Martinez dos Santos is confident the former world champion will prevail over Melindo. He said ?Rachman has too much power for Melindo.? He admitted though that the hometown factor will be an advantage for the local ALA boy and he expected his fighter to knock out Melindo.
Rachman is not used to fighting outside his home country and he will be facing an opponent only for the second time in a foreign soil since he started boxing in 1993. His first assignment outside his country ended in a draw with Yoddai Singchartchawal in Thailand in 1996.
On the other hand, Melindo is from Cagayan de Oro City and successfully defended his WBO Asia Pacific title in his hometown by stopping Tanzanian Juma Fundi on October 30, 2008 by technical knockout in the third round.
In his previous victories, Melindo outpointed Jack Amisa and Sofyan Efendi, both Rachman?s countrymen, so his standing is well known among Indonesian boxing followers. ?Milenyo? is also gaining the reputation as an elegant and power fighter in the country.
?As long as he keeps winning, I think Rachman can go on fighting for two or three more years,? said Dos Santos. He added that Rachman wants to fight in the United States and South Africa.
?But first, he?s got to take care of Melindo. Then, we want WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes,? bared Dos Santos. ?We might also fight Pigmy Muangchayaphum of Thailand for the ABCO title in Singapore in May or June. So, for Rachman, losing to Melindo is not an option because there?s just too much at stake.?
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