By Ryan Songalia
Photo by Ryan Songalia

The dingy confines of Joe Grier's Boxing Gym in Paterson, NJ; Carlos Tamara feels right at home in such unassuming surroundings. Even after defeating Brian Viloria for the IBF light flyweight title in an improbable upset and gaining fame in his native country, Tamara has continued to tune his body and craft in the same manner that initial brought him prosperity.

On this particular day Tamara's trainers Edgar "Butch" Sanchez and Angel "Ping Ping" DeJesus are preparing their charge for a sparring session with featherweight prospect Victor Valenzuela; Sanchez claims that Tamara cannot get quality sparring from fighters his own size.

Before the opening bell, duct tape is applied to Tamara's worn-out protective cup to keep it from falling. The trappings of success are nowhere to be found here.

Having lost the belt by an equally surprising result - a split decision to 39-year-old Luis Lazarte this past May in Argentina - Tamara is back at square one, relegated to the anonymity that had defined his early career.

"Winning the world title was a dream come true," says the 21-5 (15 KO) Tamara of North Bergen, NJ by way of Sincelejo, Colombia . "But what followed after that was a nightmare."

"He knows he let a perfect opportunity pass him by," said Edgar "Butch" Sanchez, Tamara's trainer.

Perhaps it's the additional weight; Tamara claims that squeezing into 108 pounds adversely affected him in his previous match and will move four pounds north to flyweight. Maybe it's the still visible scar over his left eye, which hindered him from the first round on in the Lazarte match. It could be his combative style of fighting that sticks him in the pocket to hit and be hit.

Whatever the case, 27-year-old Tamara no longer looks like a man-child barely out of high school. He looks the part of a grizzled boxing veteran.

On November 27, Tamara will attempt to re-establish himself as a world title contender against unbeaten Milan Melindo of Mandaue City, Philippines at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. Sanchez says that a win could line them up for a title shot against IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane of South Africa, who gave Nonito Donaire fits in their 2008 clash.

"He's either going to look better or he's gotta hang them up," Sanchez said, realizing the desperation of the situation.

Team Tamara believed that they were in line for a second crack at Lazarte but a dispute with promoter Osvaldo Rivero, whom they claim reneged on an automatic rematch clause, has closed that window.

Edito "Ala" Villamor, who trains the 22-0 (7 KO) Melindo acknowledges that his fighter is making a giant leap of faith, whose biggest win to date was a 2009 decision win over faded former champion Muhammad Rachman. That's not to say that his man isn't prepared for the step-up.

"He is ready physically and mentally," says Villamor. "I believe that he can make a statement, and if he wins he's ready for the big time."

Melindo has had limited experience fighting at flyweight and has never weighed in at the division's limit of 112. Dennis Canete, Vice President of ALA Promotions, said that Melindo moved up from his original weight of 105 due in part to the lack of marketability in that division. Tamara has fought at 112, unsuccessfully challenging Omar Narvaez for the title in '08.

Unlike Tamara, the 22-year-old Melindo, hasn't faced Viloria, Narvaez or Giovanni Segura. Neither has he represented his country in the Olympics, like Tamara has. The gap in experience and quality of opposition is sizable, but "El Olimpico" isn't ready to simplify the matchup as man against boy.
 
"I feel that the experience and stuff like that, you can push it to the side," Tamara says. "If you're hungry, that could make up the difference in experience."

Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to GMANews.TV. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com . An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia .