Melindo barely keeps belt
Battles to split decision victory vs Budler to retain IBF crown
Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo (37-2, 13KOs) displayed the heart of a true champion in squeezing out a split decision victory over the equally resilient Hekkie ‘Hexecutioner’ Budler (31-3, 10KOs) to retain his IBF light flyweight title in the main event of ‘Pinoy Pride 42: Clash for Glory’ the other night at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel & Casino.
Melindo was forced to dig deep in a bell-to-bell war against the two-division world champion from the get-go.
Budler took the fight to Melindo and was the aggressor from the start. He is using his speed to pressure Melindo, who wisely relied on his counterpunching skills to keep the South African visitor at bay.
Melindo, however, suffered a cut in his left eye after an accidental clash of heads. Budler then took advantage of it and tagged Melindo with his sharp jabsbuttheALAboxeranswered with strong body shots and hooks to the head.
After finding his rhythm in rounds eight and nine, Melindo sustained another cut, this time in his right eye due to head-butt. As the fight continued, Melindo staggered Budler with a series of hooks and uppercuts but Budler maintained a steady, aggressive work in the eleventh round.
Melindo’s dramatic moment came in the final round after he landed a perfectly timed left straight that sent Budler down. The South African, however, immediately stood up