PINOY PRIDE XVI: MELINDO OUTLASTS PEREZ IN A NAIL-BITER
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 23 Sep 2012
CEBU CITY ? Milan ?El Metodico? Melindo fought through his own blood in the last four rounds and won a hard earned majority decision verdict against Jean Piero Perez of Venezuela Saturday night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Melindo had no difficulty finding his range against the taller Perez in the opening round. Melindo boxed well early and shifted his attack to the midsection in the fourth, landing with punishing hooks to Perez? ribs.
Perez showed heart and championship pedigree as he remained in the fight and increased his punch output in the sixth and seventh round.
But Melindo continued to tag Perez with well-placed head shots. At the end of the eighth, Melindo bled from a cut near his left eye and Perez sensed his chance. Knowing that he already took Melindo?s best punches, the Venezuelan former WBA interim world titlist pressed forward and landed enough punches to worry the sell out crowd.
Melindo (R) tags Perez.
Perez (L) tags Melindo.
Melindo wins.
Perez? cornerman, Francisco Arroyo pushed for a continuing rally. Four years ago, Arroyo was in Rafael Concepcion?s corner when he scored a come from behind stoppage win against AJ Banal. With blood seeping from his cut, Melindo side-stepped any strong punch that could have turned the fight around in the last two rounds and turned back against Perez? late surge with head shots of his own. The judges? scores read: Salven Lagumbay ? 114-114, Edward Ligas ? 116-112 and Tony Pesons ? 115-113.
Melindo keeps his WBO International flyweight crown and unbeaten record at 28-0, 11 KO?s while Perez drops to 19-5-1, 14 KO?s.
FUENTES ROCKS LEE
Rocky Fuentes retained his OPBF flyweight title with a twelve round unanimous decision win over Myung Ho Lee of Japan. Lee moved and jabbed effectively in the opening round, making Fuentes miss with his wild hooks. Rocky composed himself in the second round and landed hard shots to the head.
Fuentes (R) puts the pressure on Lee.
As the rounds progressed, Lee was staggered on several occasions but managed to fire back. But Fuentes? edge in the power department made him pile a huge lead and Lee finished the bout with a bloodied nose.
The scorecards read 117-111, 117-112 and 116-112.
VILLANUEVA BEATS UP POSUWAN
Arthur Villanueva relied on his smooth boxing skills and body punching to beat former world title challenger Pramuansak Posuwan of Thailand.
Villanueva sent the Thai down twice in the fifth round with hooks to the ribs. Posuwan survived but continued to be at the receiving end of Villanueva?s punches until the final bell.
The scores ? 80-70,80-70 and 79-71.
Arthur Villanueva (C) waits at a neutral corner as Referee Teddy Alivio administers the count on the fallen Pramuansak Posuwan.
For the other undercard matches ? Merlito Sabillo knocked out Jovel Romasasa with a hard left to the liver in the opening round. Welbeth Loberanis won by unanimous decision over Aroel Romasasa, 60-54 for all three judges.
Sabello (R) knocks out Romasasa.
Mark Acub won over Ryan Maano in a well fought and action packed six round lightweight contest , 59-55, 59-56 and 60-55. Reymund Tabogon knocked out Lowell Garcia in the third round and in the evening?s first bout, Bryan Lobitania won by unanimous decision over Steve Noblefranca in an entertaining four rounder, 39-37 for all three judges.
This was the sixteenth edition of the Pinoy Pride series. ALA promotions will stage the next Pinoy Pride billed as Philippines vs the World on October 20 at the Mall of Asia headlined by the battle for the vacant WBO world bantamweight title between AJ Banal and Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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