Finally, a world title for Melindo
AFTER failing in his first two tries, Milan Melindo has finally fulfilled his dream as a professional boxer after winning the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world light flyweight championship.
Melindo captured the world title belt after scoring a quick first round technical knockout win over Japanese boxer Akira Yaegashi on Sunday evening at the Ariake Collosseum in Tokyo, Japan.
The quick stoppage win by the ALA Boxing Stable standout Melindo over Yaegashi is considered historic as it is the fastest world championship fight in light flyweight division history.
The 29-year-old Melindo was aggressive early on as he quickly dropped Yaegashi with a left hook. He unloaded the same shot seconds later for the Japanese boxer’s second knockdown.
With a few seconds remaining in the bout, Melindo connected a cracking left and right combination that once again floored Yaegashi. Referee Eddie Hernandez did not bother to count and declared the Filipino boxer as the winner. “Masayang masaya po ako.
mangyayari,” Hindi ko po lubos maisip na Melindo said in an interview. ganoon po ang “God po
first Si ang tumulong sa round. I just did my best.” akin para magwagi sa “Hark work training po
lang po at yung talaga. ‘Yung ginawa na pagdadasal
amin,” din po sa Diyos, ‘yun po ang he added. “Belief in God and nagdadala ng panalo sa hard work, key pagpapanalo.”
‘yun po talaga ang Prior to his conquest over ng Yaegashi, Melindo had two tries in nailing the elusive world championship but suffered defeats against Mexican pugilists J uan Francisco Estrada and Javier Mendoza.
The Cagayan de Oro- native Melindo became the fourth Filipino boxer world championship titleholder aside from Manny Pacquiao ( WBO welterweight), Jerwin Ancajas ( IBF junior bantamweight) and Donnie Nietes (IBF flyweight).
With the victory, Melindo has improved his impressive boxing record to 36- 2- 0 win- l oss- draw, including 13 stoppage wins. The 33- year-old Yaegashi’s slate, meanwhile, slid to a 25-6-0 win-loss-draw record with 13 knockout wins. Days after Melindo’s
*** successful title conquest, he immediately received a title defense offer f rom fellow Filipino boxer Randy Petalcorin, a former WBA i nterim l i ght f l yweight champion.
The General Santos City- native Petalcorin said that he intently watch the quick bout between Melindo and Yaegashi and is confident of his chances against the fellow Filipino boxer.
“I want to fight Melindo. I hope he has the balls to fight me,” Petalcorin told the Buzzer Beater. “It’s been a long time