TEAM ALA ARRIVES IN DUBAI
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 19 Apr 2010
Team ALA led by ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer has arrived in Dubai as the promoters gear up for the big fight card scheduled on Friday, headlined by WBO minimum weight No.1 ranked, multi-titled champion Milan Melindo and former world title challenger Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista.
In an overseas telephone conversation with insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Aldeguer said there was a little concern over how to get Melindo?s challenger for the WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight title Devis Perez of Colombia to Dubai because of the massive flight disruptions caused by the dangerous ash clouds that have blanketed much of Europe.
However, Aldeguer said the promoter is confident he would be able to find a flight pattern that could get the 24 year old Colombian into Dubai well ahead of Friday?s fights which will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over Studio 23 in the Philippines on a delayed basis and will also be replayed over the pre-eminent Channel 2 on Sunday morning.
Perez is considered a tough opponent for the undefeated Melindo who has moved up from minimum weight to flyweight after winning the title with a rousing ten round decision over American Anthony Villareal last January 14 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu and will be making his first defense against Perez.
The Colombian has a record of 12-1-2 with 6 knockouts and is coming off a unanimous eight round decision over Alfonso De La Hoz last January 27 after being held to a majority draw by Ronald Ramos on August 21, 2009 and scoring a 1st round TKO over John James Ramos on July 19, 2009.
Prior to his victory over Villareal, the skilled Melindo won another ten round unanimous decision over Jose Guadalupe Martinez on October 3, 2009 following a unanimous decision over former IBFworld minimum weight champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia on March 14, 2009.
23 year old featherweight ?Boom Boom? Bautista has a record of 27-2 with 20 knockouts and returned to the ring after a lengthy absence due to surgery on a broken bone in his left wrist to score an impressive 7th round TKO over durable Indonesian Marangin Marbun for the WBC International interim title on October 16, 2009.
Bautista is determined to regain his former lofty world ranking as he takes on Thailand?s Sichon Sotompitak who boasts of a record of 10-1 with 5 knockouts. The Thai southpaw is expected to give Bautista a good test in his comeback bid.
Top photo show Milan Melindo flooring Anthony Villareal of the U.S. during their bout last January at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
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