Domingo vs Malinga IBF Eliminator Set For October 30
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Hard-luck fighter Michael Domingo who has several times been denied a chance for a world title shot either by illness or opponents not willing to fight him, will get a chance to make headway when he fights Vusi Malinga in South Africa for the IBF No.1 bantamweight ranking.
Domingo will face Malinga,a former world title challenger on October 30 in South Africa on a card of well-known and multi-titled promoter Branco Milenkovic.
Domingo who has a record of 40-14-2 with 18 knockouts is coming off a spectacular 2nd round knockout of Colombia’s menacing Luis Melendez on May 23 this year. Melendez is the same fighter who lost in a ten round bout to Z “The Dream” Gorres but effectively ended the career of Gorres who underwent emergency brain surgery in Las Vegas when he collapsed in his corner after the decision was announced.
One of Domingo's notable wins was a six round unanimous decision over undefeated Oscar De La Hoya protege Miguel Roman (22-0) in the Philippines vs Mexico World Cup at the Arco Arena in Sacramento on August 11, 2007. Domingo has won nine straight fights since his last loss which was a split decision, six round setback to Kazuyuki Ichikawa in Tokyo on January 13, 2007.
Domingo was scheduled to fight Indonesian Angky Angkota in Dubai on October 29 but ALA Promotions said the offer from the IBF to fight No. 9 ranked Malinga for the number 1 spot was too exciting to turn down.
Domingo who is ranked No. 6 by the IBF had offered to fight Fernando Montiel when challenger Eric Morel backed off from a title fight earlier this year but the offer was turned down. On the threshold of a big fight in the US that was a stepping stone to a title shot, Domingo was supposedly found to have hepatitis and the fight was called off.
Aside from Melendez, the 31 year old Domingo has also beaten world title challenger Jose Navarro winning by an 8th round TKO on October 3, 2009 and former WBO bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin scoring a 9th round TKO on September 14, 2008.
Malinga, who is a southpaw and also 31 years old won the WBO African title with a 3rd round knockout of Fadhili Majia last September 25, 2009 after being knocked out in the first round by then WBC champion Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan on March 12, 2009.
Malinga, nicknamed “Marvelous” earned the title shot after hammering Thai veteran Veeraphol Sahaprom (61-3-3, 43 KOP’s) in a title eliminator on June 12, 2008.
Malinga, trained by his father Jabu , is following in the footsteps of his uncle Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga who was the first South African to win a world title when he beat England’s Nigel Benn for the WBC world super middleweight title in 1996.
Michael Domingo is set to leave Cebu City on the 24th of October 2010 and will be joined by ALA Gym Chief Trainer Edito Villamor, Assistant Trainer John Rey Bunao and ALA Promotions Public Relations Head Chad Canares.
