MILENDO SHOOTS FOR THE WORLD TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Jul 2013
Milan Melindo will stake his unbeaten record when he faces World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada on July 27, 2013 at the Cotai Arena at the Venetian Casino and Resort in Macau.
Estrada took the two titles from Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria by spilt decision last April 6 in the same venue in the gambling capital of Asia. But instead of giving Viloria a rematch, the Mexican chose the ALA Gym standout as his next opponent.
Estrada has lost twice already in his professional career. The first loss was to fellow Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez, Jr. and the second to Nicaraguan Roman Gonzales.
The unbeaten Melindo said he is confident of beating Estrada, who upset the favored Viloria in the Macau face off. "There are two world titles at stake. So I am expecting the same style of fighting like what I have encountered in my previous bouts," said Melindo. "His pressure fighting style fits my counter-punching strategy and he will be surprised come fight night."
"Milenyo" is focusing on developing his power and speed with emphasis on footwork and agility. "This fight will go down in history as one of the great fights. It will be very exciting to watch,? said Edito Villamor, Melindo?s trainer.
Melindo's sparmates include IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero, OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes, OPBF superflyweight champion Arthur Villanueva, and undefeated super flyweight fighter Melvin Gumban and Brian Lobitania. He claimed to accomplish more than 50 rounds of sparring against these partners.
According to Villamor, Melindo is 60 to 70 percent ready for the world title fight and has shown vast improvement since his fourth-round TKO over Tommy Seran last April 6, the undercard of the Viloria-Estrada encounter.
?Melindo has improved a lot in all aspects especially his timing, physique, and stamina and has shown tremendous mental preparation for this fight,? he said.
Melindo?s ALA stablemate Genesis Servania will see action in the undercard against Japanese former world title challenger Konosuke Tomiyama. Likewise undefeated fighter Dave Pe?alosa will show his boxing prowess versus Thai boxer Ngaotawan Sithsaithong.
Melindo who hails from Cagayan de Oro is the present WBO international flyweight champion. He currently holds the record with the most wins of all active undefeated Filipino boxers. He has 29 wins with no defeat and no draw with 12 wins by way of KO. He fought 17 foreign boxers and won all of them.
He took his nickname from the devastating Typhoon Milenyo, a destructive storm that killed over 250 people in the Philippines and Vietnam.
He won the WBA Inter-Continental light flyweight title on July 26, 2008, by defeating Carlos Melo of Panama at the Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City by a unanimous decision. On January 14, 2010, Melindo won over Anthony Villareal by unanimous decision for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Intercontinental flyweight championship at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Filipino boxing fans pinned their hopes on Melindo to resurrect our image from the successive debacle of Filipino fighters in world title fights.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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