by Ronnie Nathanielsz

World rated Milan Melindo who suffered his first setback when he lost a twelve round  unanimous decision to Juan Francisco Estrada in a WBO/WBA flyweight title fight in Macau last July 27 faces former WBA light flyweight champion Jose Alfredo Rodriguez of Mexico in a double championship fight card at the Araneta Coliseum on November 30.

The 24 year old Rodriguez who has a record of 29-2 with 18 knockouts won the title with an upset win over fancied Thai fighter Nethra Sasiprapa on November 19, 2011  but lost by a unanimous decision to Alberto Rossel on April 14, 2012.

Rodriguez earned a shot at Japanese world champion Kazuto Ioka but lost by a 6th round TKO after being dropped once in the 1st round and twice in the 6th.

However, he is coming off a 2nd round TKO over journeyman Marvin Diaz in a rematch last August 20 after also scoring a 2nd round TKO in their first clash on September 30, 2011.

Melindo is determined to earn another crack at the world title following his loss to the tough Estrada in an excellent fight in Macau.

The technically sound Melindo who is 25 has a record of 29-1 with 12 knockouts.
Among  the two title fights on the blockbuster card of ALA Promotions staged in cooperation with the giant  broadcast network ABS-CBN, WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes will  defend his title against another Mexican Sammy “Guty” Gutierrez the 27 year old with a record of 33-9-2 with 23 knockouts.

Among his victims has been Filipino Roilo Golez over whom Gutierrez scored a 5th round TKO in a battle for the vacant WBC Silver title on October 1, 2011.

In the other title  fight, hard-hitting southpaw Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo will put his WBO minimumweight title on the line against undefeated Nicaraguan puncher, 21 year old Carlos Buitrago who has a record of 27-0 with 16 knockouts.

Sabillo is also unbeaten and has a record of 23-0 with 12 knockouts.

Sabillo won the title with a smashing 8th round TKO over  Colombia’s Luis De La Rosa on March 9 this year and successfully defended his title with a 9th round knockout of Jorlie Estrada also of Colombia with a vicious body shot at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino along Manila Bay on July 13.