Philippines, 19 Mar 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MELINDO: ?IT'S GOD'S WILL THAT I WON THE TITLE? (PHOTOS)


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU CITY ? Newly minted IBF world light flyweight king Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo triumphantly arrived in this boxing city Tuesday evening from Japan and upon his arrival faced the same local sports journalists in the same hotel where a week before had gave him a send-off dinner.

?It was God's will that I won the title,? Melindo , who stopped full champion Akira Yaegashi of Japan in sensational first round stoppage Sunday night in Tokyo, told the assembled mediamen.

?Before the fight, I prayed hard to God and it was by His grace that I won the fight,? Melindo went on to say. ?Atop the ring it was a bit lonely there because the whole stadium was chanting the name of my opponent 'Akira, Akira', but I had faith in God that He was more powerful than anyone here.?

But when Yaegashi fell to the canvas for the third time before the end of the first round and when the referee didn't finish the count to stop the contest, the whole stadium fell in stunned silence.

?It was quite awkward there when only three or four of us were trying to celebrate and everyone else was in mourning,? Melindo's trainer Edito Villamor told Philboxing.


Team Melindo (L-R): Michael Domingo, Edito Villamor, Melindo and Edmund Villamor who faced the Cebu media Tuesday night.

The result of the fight reverberated in the boxing world and many had wondered if the usually durable Yaegashi came into the fight not fully prepared.

Villamor debunked the notion that Yaegashi was ill-prepared. ?For one he [Yaegashi] looks solid during the weighin. The fact that he made the weight easily suggests that he's been training very well,? Villamor said. Yaegashi and Melindo both weighed in at 107.6 lbs, slightly below the 108 lbs light flyweight limit.

Villamor and his brother Edmund and Michael Domingo who were in Melindo's corner in Japan, were one in saying that it was Melindo's left hook to the head of Yaegashi, which accounted for the Yaegashi's first knockdown, that doomed the Japanese.

?I was hit with the same punch in the head and the world turns,? Villamor said referring to the punch that Mexican legend Finito Lopez hit him that knocked him out during their world title fight on March 16, 1996 in Las Vegas.

Although Yaegashi got up, Melindo could sense that his opponent was still groggy. ?I could hit him with my jab so I thought he has not yet recovered,? Melindo said who then followed up with another vicious left hook to the body that sent Yaegashi to the canvas for the second time. As the first round came to a close Melindo delivered a crushing right to the jaw of Yaegashi who fell to the canvas for the third time.


The Melindo right hand that finishes off Yaegashi.


Melindo raises his hands as the referee waives off the contest.

?When I saw that Yaegashi's head bounced back to the canvas, I knew it was over,? Villamor said.

Yaegashi, quoted by the Japan Times, concurred with Team Melindo's assessment. ?I got hit with his left hook (for the first knockdown), and looking back, it won him the fight,? Yaegashi told the Japan Times. ?I wasn?t good enough to win. I have to accept it.?

Melindo's win spoiled what could be a triumphant weekend for Japan's light flyweight boxers: Kosei Tanaka successfully defended his WBO lightfly title over Angel Acosta of Puerto Rico in Nagoya Saturday and Ken Shiro wrested the WBC lightfly belt from Ganigan Lopez of Mexico in Tokyo, also Saturday. Yaegashi was expected to raise his hand in victory against Melindo on Sunday.

The WBA lightfly belt is being held by another Japanese Ryoichi Taguchi.

Melindo has said he wants to unify the light flyweight titles. If that is so, Melindo has to get a long term Japanese visa as his flight routes will most likely be heading to 36?N and 138?E for some time.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • TIM TSZYU NOW FACES SEBASTIAN FUNDORA ON MARCH 30 AFTER KEITH THURMAN INJURY
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • More Olympic slots for ABAP?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • Yokasta Valle: "I Will Make History for Costa Rica!"
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • RYAN: WE TRIED TO GET IT AT HER WEIGHT BUT SHE DIDN'T WANT IT
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • POPEYE RETURNS HOME: RICHIE RIVERA RETURNS IN FIGHT 4/6 AT MOHEGAN SUN
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • Toro Promotions to showcase heavyweight trio Undefeated Ukraine Olympian Tsotne Rogava to headline, plus Alexander Flores and Kingsley Ibeh
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • NYPD officer Nisa Rodriguez shines in pro boxing debut
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • 1st Davey Chua Cup Softball League starts on March 23
    , Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • DMMA, UM top Araw volley tourney
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • Patrick Bonifacio to compete in GM Balinas Open rapid chess tournament in Robinsons Galleria
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • Hot Irish prospect Tommy Hyde remains undefeated, captures first title as a pro
    , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman in Pacquiao-Elorde Awards in Manila
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • Filipino Bernie Regalario ready for US debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • Tandag arnis rules Zubiri Cup
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • IIEE captures the team and individual championships in PTC WED Fun Shoot
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • UM Davao aims to repeat as champion in Davao City Athletic Festival
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 Mar 2024
  • Another One Fell to Body Punching
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • Davis' Eye Injury Spoils LAL-GS Play-In Game Preview
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • Mexico’s Green and Gold National Amateur Mega Tournament
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • DDGM’s Cup Open at Don Paco Rocamora Golf in Mati
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 62: MANNY PACQUIAO PRACTICE VIDEO FOOTAGE HOPES FOR A FIGHT AGAINST CONOR BENN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • Another honor for D’Flash
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • WILLIAM “EL CAMARÓN” ZEPEDA SECURES A GOLDEN TICKET TO A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OPPORTUNITY AFTER TKO WIN OVER MAXI HUGHES IN
    , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • PTC WED update: PICE bowling champ, IIEE Millennial and GenX teams lead basketball tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 17 Mar 2024
  • "MANO DE PIEDRA" DURAN HEALTH UPDATE
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 16 Mar 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.