Rachman Ready For Melindo
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 11 Mar 2009
Former IBF minimumweight champ Muhammad Rachman arrived in Cebu Wednesday morning and talked to sportswriters in a press conference held at the Patio Isabel in Talamban, Cebu City. He is accompanied by his manager Martinez Dos Santos who acted as interpreter and trainer Alex Rabaleta.
The Indonesian ex-champ will be facing the ALA gym?s rising star Milan Melindo (17W- 0 L, 5 KO's) this Saturday at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. Rachman said that he prepared for two months for this bout. He is very optimistic about his chances. He describes Melindo as a ?good boxer but inexperienced.? He also stated that this fight is a ?tune up? for him and that he plans to fight for a world title again.
He wants to fight undefeated WBC strawweight champ Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand. He also has plans to run for a seat in the Indonesian parliament this April.
Ring magazine ranks Rachman fifth among the world's 105 lb. fighters. He held he world title for almost three years before losing to Filipino Florante Condes by split decision last July 2007.
Rachman (62W-6L-5D, 31 KO) fought only once since the Condes loss, winning a decision over Filipino Edren ?The Sting? Dapudong last June 2008 . He cited the difficulty in staging pro boxing promotions in Indonesia as the reason for the inactivity.
Rachman said the best Filipino boxer he fought was Bert Batawang, who he describes as a hard puncher. The best moment in his 16 year career was of course his title win over Daniel Reyes of Colombia.
Rachman vs. Melindo promises to be a spine tingling co-main event to the Z Gorres vs Roberto Carlos Leyva of Mexico for the vacant WBO Oriental bantamweight belt.
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