METHOD BEHIND THE MAYHEM
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 28 Nov 2010
Three months ago Milan Melindo already knew how he would handle Carlos Tamara. I was in a Mexican restaurant with the man now known as ?Metodico? three hours after he knocked out Korean Jin Man Jeon. He was talking about the planned match-up against Tamara with ALA Gym trainers Edito and Edmund Villamor.
Melindo elaborated on how he would approach Tamara; how he would counter his shots. I could only understand half of what he was saying. The music was too loud, my stomach was growling and the food was great. But the confident look in his eyes was hard to miss. It was the look of an assassin planning a hit. We all got to see it for ourselves last night.
It was a fast paced chess match. The shorter Melindo's jab surprisingly found it's range early. Tamara tried to be busy with his jab and lateral movement but Melindo cut him off quickly and employed a deadly mix of head and body shots.
The fourth round was breathtaking as the boxers employed close quarter combat with rib rattling shots. Tamara was staggering in the 5th as Melindo stepped on the gas. Just like in his title win against Brian Viloria, Tamara was falling behind after the half way mark. But he was still on his toes and very dangerous.
The Colombian tried to mount a rally. Melindo smartly countered and weathered the storm. There would be no come from behind miracle from Tamara this time as Melindo smartly paced himself after failing in his prediction to score a a 5th round knockout.
The ALA boxer from Cagayan de Oro City finished strong and pinned Tamara on the ropes in a final flurry in the tenth round. The scores read ? 98-82, 98-92 and 97-93. Both boxers deserve to be commended for their excellent display of skills and punch volume. Tamara preserved his reputation of having never been stopped.
This is the kind of action missed by fight fans from North America and Europe because of their preference for heavier boxers.
Tamara (21W-5L, 15 KO's) was the second former champion that Melindo beat convincingly. Last year, he beat former IBF mini-flyweight champ Muhamad Rachman by unanimous decision at the same Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. If there were still any doubts as to whether Melindo (23W-0L, 7 KO's) deserves a shot at a world title, he answered all the remaining questions last night.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 17 Jul 2025More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
By Leo Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
Thu, 17 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS CONGRATULATES SUBRIEL MATIAS ON BECOMING THE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Thu, 17 Jul 2025Gaisano Grand Cup Season 20 opens August 3
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 17 Jul 2025HALL OF FAMER MANNY PACQUIAO SET TO CHASE HISTORY YET AGAIN THIS SATURDAY NIGHT IN WORLD TITLE FIGHT AGAINST MARIO BARRIOS
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: New York, a Special Place for Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua talking for a possible fight?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Philippines Rolls Past Pacific Oceania in Davis Cup Group IV Opener as Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors Set the Pace
Wed, 16 Jul 2025