By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO No. 1 ranked minimumweight Milan Melindo and hard-hitting Philippine flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes who relinquished his title earlier this year to take a big fight in Japan, engaged in a furious three-round sparring session before an enthusiastic crowd of fight fans at the Gaisano Country Mall in Cebu on Sunday.
What was billed as an exhibition, the sparring session turned into a give-and-take affair with both fighters who are stable-mates at the famed ALA Gym of renowned boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, going after each other for the full three rounds to the delight of the fans.
Melindo who will move up in weight is in the thick of preparations for his showdown for the WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight title against the American champion of Mexican descent Anthony “Baby Assassin” Villareal, a 22 year old slugger with a record of 9-2 with 4 knockouts.
The fight on an exciting card dubbed “Bakbakan sa Sinulog” is scheduled for January 14 at the plush ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel in a joint venture of ALA Promotions and Smart Sports with the fights to be telecast over the TV network ABC 5 which was recently acquired by the eminent businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilnan, renowned for his commitment to sports..
The 22 year old Villareal who won the title by a split decision over previously undefeated Manuel Roman (14-0, 5 KO’s) after dropping Roman in the second round last April 8 is a known slugger who doesn’t back off and his style is expected to contrast sharply with the boxing skills of Melindo who is regarded as one of the most complete boxers in the ALA Gym roster and is now building up his punching power.
The 21 year old Melindo is undefeated with a record of 19-0 with 5 knockouts and is coming of a ten round unanimous decision over Jose Guadalupe Martinez last October 3 following a big win also over ten rounds against rugged former world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia on March 14.
Melindo who is ranked No.1 by the WBO, No. 3 by the WBA and No. 5 by the WBC and IBF is the WBO Asia Pacific minimum weight champion winning the crown with a 3rd round TKO over Juma Fundi on October 30, 2008 after grabbing the WBA Intercontinental light flyweight title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Carlos Melo on July 26, 2008.
Melindo is out to score an impressive win that would put him in line for a world title shot according to Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Promotions. Being eyed as possible targets are two undefeated champions -- WBA minimum weight champion Roman Gonzales (24-0, 20 KO’s)of Nicaragua and WBC champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai (33-0, 12 KO’s) of Thailand.
In another blood and guts co-main event, world rated southpaw AJ “Bazooka” Banal (20-1-1, 16 KO’s) will clash with experienced Mexican bantamweight Cecilio Santos (24-11-3, 14 KO’s) whose losses are misleading since they were against world champions including WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel whom he stretched to the limit before losing by a tenth round TKO. Santos also held one-time world flyweight champion Dimitr KIrilov to a draw in a title showdown and also dropped a twelve round decision in an North American Boxing Federation title fight against talented Alejandro Valdez.
