WILL MELINDO END THE YEAR WITH A BANG?
IBF champion Melindo to face WBA champ in unification bout ALA Promotions said they had to iron out a lot of kinks to make bout possible Milan will make first trip to Japan since winning IBF belt last May 21
International Boxing Federation junior flyweight champion Milan Melindo’s dream of getting a unification bout is finally coming true.
El Metodico will take on World Boxing Association junior flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi in a unification bout on Dec. 31 in Tokyo.
ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer made the announcement in a press conference yesterday that was also aired live in Japan. Aldeguer said that to make Melindo’s wish come true, they had to go through a tough negotation process.
“This is the hardest negotiation we ever had,” said Aldeguer.
Aldeguer said that the problem in the negotiation was Melindo’s controversial win against South African Hekkie Budler last Sept. 16 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. Carl Zappia scored it 115-113 for Melindo, Takeo Harda had it 117-110 for Melindo, while Glenn Trowbridge had it 115-112 for Budler, who got knocked down in Round 12.
Budler’s camp filed a complaint in IBF, which ordered a rematch between the two. However, Aldeguer said they were able to convince the IBF to let Melindo face the WBA champion on the condition that the winner between the two will take on Buddler.
“We had a very hard time in this negotiation because of the issue of Budler. But we made an agreement that whoever wins in the Dec. 31s will fight Budler,” said Aldeguer. “The dream of Milan has always been a unification bout, so we have to work really hard for this fight.”
Milendo, who became a world champion with an impressive first round ko over Akira Yaegashi last May 21 in Japan, said he is ready to unify the IBF and WBA belts. He also said that like Yaegashi, Taguchi is a talented fighter but he is confident of his abilities.
“Both Japanese fighters are very good and strong kay dili man na sila mahimong world champion kon dili na sila maayo,” matod ni Melindo. “But I have a lot of confidence to myself because I have faith in God.”
ALA head trainer Edito Villamor said Melindo has to dominate Taguchi so the fight won’t go 12 rounds.
However, he said he isn’t worried of a possilbe hometown decision in Tokyo because it is known to play fair.
“Ever since before, Tokyo has been known to give fair decisions, but that doesn’t mean Milan can be complacent in this fight,” said Villamor.
Melindo is 37-2 with 13KOs, while Taguchi is 26-2-2 with 12KOs. /