Domingo ready for Melendez
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 28 Apr 2010
Michael Domingo is back from a three week stint in Japan as the chief sparring partner of World Boxing Council bantamweight champ Hozumi Hasegawa. The Japanese champion is preparing for a unification bout against WBO champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico while the ALA Gym fighter is bracing for his highly anticipated May 23 showdown against Luis Melendez of Colombia.
Sparring with Hasegawa was a good learning experience for Domingo. The champion is a southpaw like Melendez.
?You will be a world champion someday.? Hasegawa told Domingo as he complimented the Filipino for his defense and his ability to simulate Montiel's fighting style.Domingo believes Hasegawa will beat Montiel in their April 30 showdown.
Domingo (39W ? 14 L ? 2D, 17 KO?s) has finished the intensive phase of his preparations for Melendez (26W-5L-1D, 21 KO's), who is known to Filipino boxing fans as the boxer responsible for sending Z ?The Dream? Gorres to the hospital for emergency neurosurgery last November in Las Vegas.
Another interesting sidelight to this fight is the presence of trainer Edito Villamor in Domingo's corner. Villamor was Gorres' trainer during that ill-fated night last November. The ALA Gym's chief trainer still remembers the harrowing moments minutes after the fight ended when Gorres suddenly lost consciousness.
Domingo is extremely confident and cannot wait for the May 23 showdown to be held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.
One of the undercard bouts will feature Jimrex Jaca against James Kimori of Kenya. Jaca (29W-6L-3D, 14 KO's) is enjoying a career rejuvenation since joining the ALA Gym. He lost his last three fights in 2008 and was inactive in 2009. But last January 23, 2010, he scored an impressive 5th round knockout win over Ramadhan Weriu of Indonesia at the Cuneta Astrodome. A few more wins and the talented southpaw will be ready to face elite fighters. In 2006, he had a gallant loss against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Domingo and Jaca, together with Milan Melindo, attended the ALA Promotions press conference held Tuesday evening at the Phat Thursday Bar in Banilad, Cebu City. Melindo talked about his impressive 4th round KO win against Komrit Twins Gym in Dubai last April 23.
There are plans that he will go back to junior flyweight to face IBF champ Carlos Tamara. But Melindo said he would also like to fight WBO champ Ivan Calderon. Melindo's style of inflicting gradual but brutal and scientific punishment may have earned him a new nickname - ?El Meticuloso?.
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