Pinoy Pride XI: MELINDO AND ESQUER MAKE WEIGHT (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Jan 2012
Cebu City ? Defending WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion
Milan ?Metodico? Melindo and challenger Juan ?Panterita? Esquer of Mexico both weighed in at the division limit of 112 lbs during the official weigh-in held Friday noon at the Event Center of SM City Cebu.
They will battle in the scheduled twelve round main event on Saturday at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug. Melindo, who hails from Cagayan de Oro, will risk his lofty world ranking against a former world title challenger.
Team Mexico appeared confident and bursting with enthusiasm when they arrived for the routing physical exam and posed and smiled for the photographers and television cameras.
Another intriguing Mexico vs Philippines match-up is the supporting main event between Diego ?Tyson? Ledesma of Mexico and Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva of North Cotabato. Villanueva's 90 percent KO rate will be tested against the tough Ledesma who boasts that he does fight like Mike Tyson.
Villanueva and Ledesma both stepped on the scales at 126.5 lbs and will trade punches in a ten rounder.
Mhar Jhun ?Astig? Macahilig (113 lbs) of Aklan is pitted against Kaichon Sor Vorapin (111 lbs) of Thailand in a scheduled eight rounder, Joseph Von Mi?oza (132 lbs) of Cebu City and Yoo Sin Kim (132 lbs) will fight for eight rounds and OPBF minimumweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo (107 lbs) of Bacolod City will make his first appearance in the country's boxing capital against Indonesian Sofyan ?The Cobra? Effendi (107 lbs) in an eight round non-title contest.
The results of five match-ups will determine whether Team Philippines or Team World will win the golden trophy.
The preliminary bouts will feature Kazuya Harada (117.5) of Japan vs Alvin Arresgado (117.5) ? 4 rounds, Jun ?Flash? Intor (127 lbs) vs Crispin Parba (128 lbs) ? 4 rounds, Mark Acub (130.5 lbs) vs Samuel Galinato (132 lbs) ? 4 rounds (Galinato given an hour to shed excess weight) and the event will be opened by Ivor Lastrilla (119.5 lbs) vs Jicky ?Batang Boljoon? Gaco (119.5 lbs).
Fights start this Saturday at 6 PM.
Melindo makes the weight.
Melindo and Esquer pose with ALA President Michael Aldeguer (L) and WBO Vice-President Leon Panoncillo (R).
Lorenzo Villanueva (L) and Diego 'Tyson' Ledesma.
Macahilig (L) and Sor Vorapin.
Sabillo (L) and Effendi.
Harada (L) and Arisgado.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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