By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Reigning WBO Asia Pacific minimum weight champion Milan Melindo is scheduled to fight former world champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia in a fight card at the Waterfront Hotel on February 28.
The fight will be a non-title ten rounder according to ALA Gym chairman and well known boxing patron Tony Aldeguer.
The 20 year old Melindo is undefeated with 17 wins including 5 by way of knockouts while the 37 year old Rachman has a record of 62-6-5 with 31 knockouts.
He is ranked No.1 by the WBO, No. 7 by the WBC, No. 4 by the WBA and No. 11 by the IBF.
Rachman is currently ranked No. 3 by the IBF and No. 12 by the WBC. He is a durable and tough fighter and his clash with Melindo should be an exciting one.
Rachman lost his IBF title by a split decision to Filipino Florante Condes in Jakarta on July 7, 2007. In his last fight the Indonesian veteran scored a unanimous decision over ten rounds against Edren Dapudong in Jakarta last June 28.
Melindo, on the other hand successfully defended his WBO Asia Pacific minimum weight title with a third round TKO over Juma Fundi of Indonesia last October 30 when referee Jing Galarpe called a halt at 0:32 of round three and Fundi in serious trouble.
The stylish Melindo had earlier won the WBA Intercontinental light flyweight title with an impressive twelve round unanimous decision over Carlos Melo of Panama.
