by Ronnie Nathanielsz
IBF light flyweight title challenger Mikan Melindo is “sharply focused” in his bid to win the world title in a showdown against Mexico’s Javier Mendoza on May 30 – May 31 in Manila – in a fight that will trake place in Mexico.
ALA Promotions trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor told the New Standard/BoxingScene.com in an overseas telephone conversation from Los Angeles where Melindo has been training at the Wild Card Gym, that Melindo’s focus was “terrific” and that he is ripped and ready to win a world title in his second attempt after having los in his bid to wrest the WBO/WBA flyweight crown from tough and talented Juan Francisco Estrada on July 27, 2013.
Villamor said Melindo had “shown his stuff” in sparring sessions with Mexican, Japanese and Australian opponents and that “he really wants to win.”
They are scheduled to drive to Mexico today.
Melindo has a record of 32-1 with 12 knockouts while the champion Mendoza has a record of 22-2-1 with 18 knockouts which reflects the Mexican’s punching power.
Mendoza won the title from Ramon Garcia Hirales by a twelve round unanimous decision even as he dropped Garcia Hirales once in round five and then again in round 9 in June 2013.
Garcia Hirales had earlier lost his WBO light flyweight title to Donnie “Ahas” Nietes in Bacolod City with Nietes currently the longest reigning Filipino world champion.