MELINDO WILL PROVE TOO GOOD FOR ESQUER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 28 Jan 2012
Milan "Methodico" Melindo, unquestionably the most technically sound and dedicated fighter among the many emerging champions in the famed ALA Gym, is likely to prove too good for his tough-talking Mexican opponent Juan Esquer when they clash in the main event of an exciting card at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu, Saturday.
The fights in the 11th edition of the popular "Pinoy Pride" series will be telecast by ABS-CBN on its pre-eminent Channel 2 on Sunday.
The undefeated Melindo is ranked by all the top four world organizations which in itself is a recognition of the boxer's talent.
He is No.1 behind another Filipino, Brian Viloria, the reigning WBO flyweight champion and is also ranked No. 6 by the WBC, No. 9 by the WBA and No. 12 by the IBF.
Melindo and Esquer both tipped the scales at the 112 pound limit during the official weigh-in and while the Mexican slugger Esquer who has 21 knockouts in 27 wins with 9 losses and 2 draws was smiling and expressed confidence of winning, Melindo was his usual serious self, knowing that an impressive performance against the Mexican may be his ticket to a world title shot.
The 23 year old Melindo who has a record of 25-0 with 9 knockouts is coming off a solid win over another tough Mexican Francisco Rosas who retired in the 10th round of a scheduled twelve round bout providing some indication of Melindo's increasing punching power as a result of a grueling strength and conditioning program.
Prior to that he scored a stunning 1st round knockout if Rosendo Vargas and had beaten former IBF light flyweight champion Carlos Tamara of Panama comfortably over ten rounds. Tamara is the same fighter who won the title from Viloria in 2010.
Esquer on the other hand lost to Tamara in a fairly close fight for the WBC Latino light flyweight title on June 20, 2008.
Although he has lost nine fights Esquer has fought some tough opponents aside from Tamara. In his last fight against Ricardo Nunez for the WBC Latino flyweight crown he was disqualified in the 7th round for low blows.
He also lost by a 5th round TKO to rugged Edgar Jimenez in a FECARBOX title fight on September 25, 2010 after being knocked out in the 2nd round by Oscar Ibarra who recently fought Sylvester Lopez for the WBC Silver title.
From all reports Esquer is a fighter in the tradition of Mexican warriors who like to move forward aggressively and engage their opponents which is the strategy he is bound to use against Melindo who is not regarded by the Mexicans as a big puncher.
This should make for an exciting contest between a slugger and a skilled boxer like Melindo.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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