Milan Melindo: The best is yet to come
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 06 Aug 2010
?I don?t mind fighting taller and bigger opponents. I take it as a challenge. The bigger the opponent, the bigger the challenge.? ? Milan Melindo
Melindo (21W-0L, 6 KO?s) has been fighting bigger opponents since he left the 105 lb. division. He has not lost but boxing pundits have talked about the lack of a big punch. But the 22 year old has the ability to beat an opponent in so many different ways.
Many were apprehensive in 2009 when Melindo was scheduled to face former IBF minimumweight champ Muhammad Rachman. The Indonesian was 17 years older and had 56 more fights. But Melindo showed guts and poise beyond his years when he engaged Rachman in one of the best fights seen in Cebu last year. It wasn?t just the fact that he outfought a former world titlist, Melindo showed he could outthink him.
Melindo fought a couple of ring wars that went the distance against Jose Guadalupe Martinez of Mexico and Anthony Villareal of the U.S. before he scored a 4th round knockout win against Komrit Twins Gym of Thailand last April in Dubai.
He was on the verge of getting a world title shot but negotiations with IBF lt.flyweight champ Carlos Tamara fizzled out. Tamara is now an ex-champ and a lost title opportunity for Melindo.
The world ranked Melindo (21W-0L, 6 KO's) will face Korean flyweight champ Jin-man Jeon (13W-3L-1D, 3 KO's) who is more than three inches taller and has fought as a junior bantamweight. They will be part of the huge August 28 fight card in Cebu City billed as Philippines versus the World.
On the regimen of the ALA Gym?s new conditioning coach Pio Solon, Melindo said, ?It has been a big help. Being exposed to new training methods has improved my speed, power and balance. You will see the result this August 28.?
Trainer Edito Villamor said that Melindo?s sparring partners like OPBF champ Rocky Fuentes have noticed the improvement in his power. He still has three weeks left in their conditioning regimen. Fans will be looking forward to the result. A more powerful Melindo is certainly bad news for his future opponents.
(Photo below ? Melindo (second from left) during last Thursday?s presscon)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025