By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine super featherweight champion Aaron Melgarejo has scored a big win with a first round knockout of Japan ’s Masato Maedo in Okinawa, Japan over the weekend.
With the smashing win the 25 year old Melgarejo improves his record to 13-6-1 with 5 knockouts while the 24 year old Maedo drops to 15-3-2 with 7 knockouts.
In a mandatory defense of his Philippine title last October 18, Melgarejo overpowered Judefil Aclo scoring knockdowns in the 3rd, 4th and 5th round before the referee stopped the one-sided bout in the sixth round.
Prior to that Melgarejo dropped an eight round unanimous decision to American Manuel Perez at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on June 26, 2008 in a fairly close bout with all three judges turning in identical 77-75 scorecards in favor of Perez.
Melgarejo has, in the past, served as one of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners and the impressive win in Japan should put him back into contention in the super featherweight division in the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation.