AFTER METHODICALLY DISMANTLING ROSAS, MELINDO IS NOW READY FOR THE WORLD'S TOP FLYWEIGHTS
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Sep 2011
CEBU, Philippines - Undefeated Filipino Milan Melindo (25-0, 9KOs) lived up to his monicker "El Metodico" after he calmly and effectively broke down Mexico's Francisco "Chiquita" Rosas at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu Saturday night.
It was a one-side fight on Melindo's side. At no moment the Mexican was a real threat to "El Metodico," a Cagayan de Oro native, who displayed very good combinations, speed and technique, variety in his attack and good defense, though a still apparent lack of a devastating punching power.
Indeed, Melindo's opponent, the third class 31-year-old out of shape fighter "Chiquita" Rosas, whose best moments in boxing are already gone, resisted all the best blows Melindo could deliver, including vicious body shots.
Rosas, regardless of the enormous effort he had to endure to lose weight the day before as well as the effects of his long trip from Mexico, stood his ground showing admirable guts and courage, though not impressive boxing skills. In addition, the punches that the Mexican could administer on Melindo could not have had his desired power as Chiquita had to wear 10 oz. gloves due to his one pound and half overweight. The official weight of Melindo was 111 lbs., while the Mexican registered an official weight of 113? lbs.
Nevertheless, during the 10 rounds that the fight lasted, the fighter from San Lorenzo, Oaxaca Chiquita Rosas was at no moment in the terrible predicament of losing by an effective KO product of any of Melindo's accurate blows or combinations. In fact, Melindo, who is taller than ?Chiquita,? was not able to please the crowd with an entertaining knock down over the Mexican.
The finale of the battle came at the end of the tenth round when top international referee Bruce McTavish appropriately stopped the combat as there was no point in allowing the tired Rosas to continue in merciless fashion against a younger and fresher foe. At that final stage, it was obvious that the Mexican had lost all rounds, had a bleeding nose and just needed a miracle to win the contest.
Regardless of the fact that the Melindo-Rosas fight was for the WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title, Chiquita Rosas is not and has never been a top notch fighter in the flyweight weight class.
So Melindo?s victory must be put in perspective.
True that Melindo has shown huge improvements since the night that he won his first international contest by outpointing Panamanian Carlos Melo at the Cebu Coliseum back in July of 2008. Plus, it?s fair to say that the 23-year-old ALA fighter appears to be on the way to become a threat in the flyweight division.
But, is he now ready? How would Melindo perform against any of the current world champions or top level flyweights of the world?
The WBO flyweight world champion is fellow Filipino Brian Viloria ?The Hawaiian punch,? a fighter with experience and who has punching power. Veterans Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Edgar Sosa are the rulers in the WBC flyweight weight class. Pongsaklek and Sosa will fight in Thailand on October 28. WBA Sluggers Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez and Panama's Luis "El Nica" Concepcion will slug it out again for the WBA regular title in Hermosillo, Mexico on October 29, as WBA interim flyweight champ Juan Carlos Raveco of Argentina is now searching for an opponent. IBF flyweight champion South Africa's Moruti Mthalane is scheduled to defend his 112 lbs world title against Italian Andrea Sarritzu by end of next week in Cagliari, Italy. Former world champion champion hard hitting "El Guerrero Azteca" Giovani Segura of Guerrero, Mexico is another force in Melindo's 112 pounds division.
El Metodico will be an tough opponent to whoever champion Melindo's handlers choose to fight. The victory of Melindo over top fighter Carlos Tamara was a sign that the Filipino is among the top flyweights. The Melindo-Rosas fight of last night might be considered a tune-up match for more exciting, thrilling, and challenging matches to come.
His fans have got the feeling that Milan Melindo?s success story is just beginning.
Photos by Carlos Costa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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