Erik Morales: Mendoza Will Defend Belt Against Fuentes

By Miguel Rivera & Ronnie Nathanielsz

According to former four division world champion Erik Morales, who now promotes and trains fighters, Javier "Cobrita" Mendoza (22-2-1, 18KOs) will make the first defense of his IBF junior flyweight world title against Mauricio Fuentes (17-3, 11KOs) of Colombia on January 10th in Tijuana, Mexico.

The Mexican press had erroneously reported that Mendoza was defending his title against Renan Trongco (16-4, 9KOs).

Well known promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, the manager of Trongco, flatly denied that his boxer was facing Mendoza.

“[It] is not true at all. They are just using our name. We didn’t even receive an offer to fight Mendoza.”

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer who earlier announced that mandatory challenger Milan “El Methodico” Melindo was set to face the hard-hitting Mendoza on March 28 in Manila was surprised when we informed him about the story on a Mendoza-Trongco title fight and disclosed that he had held discussions with the IBF after Melindo won a title eliminator.

Melindo has been training through the holidays without a day off, knowing that the southpaw  Mendoza is a heavy-handed fighter who won the title with a dominating performance over former world champion Ramon Garcia Hirales who had earlier lost his title to Donnie “Ahas” Nietes who is now the longest reigning Filipino world champion having surpassed the record of the late Hall of Famer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde of 7 years and three months which had stood for some 34 years.

Melindo who moved down to light flyweight easily after he lost a twelve round decision against tough and talented Juan Francisco Estrada in Macau on July 27, 2013 has a record of 32-1 with 12 knockouts while Mendoza has a record of 22-2-1 with 18 big knockouts.