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Philippines, 31 Mar 2026 |
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MELINDO IS READY FOR TAGUCHI ON NEW YEAR'S EVE By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Fri, 29 Dec 2017  On New Year's eve, IBF world junior flyweight titlist Milan Melindo (37-3-0, 13KOs) faces WBA super world jr. flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi (26-2-2, 12KOs) of Japan in a high risk IBF and WBA title unification bout. This year 2017, Melindo has successfully won his two world championship fights against two of the greatest boxers in his weight division. He intends to win a third title fight before the year ends as he travels to Japan. * * * The 31-year old Taguchi climbs into the ring oozing with confidence to keep his untarnished world title record of five wins and a draw which he successfully protected for three years. Melindo?s goal is to unify all the titles in the junior flyweight division as he gallantly expressed his target of clashing with the three other world champions in his weight class. * * * Melindo won the interim IBF title against Thailander Teeraphong Utaida in November last year. He worked rigorously and his dedication made him conquer the IBF world junior flyweight title from Akira Yaegashi in May, and he carved out a remarkable win over South African Hekkie Budler in his first title defense last September. * * * ALA Gym head trainer Edito Villamor stated that his trainee was extremely dedicated and determined in his preparations. ?It?s amazing how he?s improved. You can see he?s pouring out everything he has to make his dreams come true,? said Villamor. "We?re right now focusing on his mental readiness, reviewing our game plan again and again, so he won?t forget what we?ve trained for the past months.? * * * It's the CDO world titlist's biggest match of his career so far. ?He?s ready to take anyone in his path to reach his goal. He wants to make history and he wants to do it now. We can see how badly he wants it. There?s no turning back,? added Villamor. The Melindo-Taguchi unification clash will be staged in Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan. Milan is hoping to welcome the new year with another title belt worn on his waist. * * * Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum promotes and guides the careers of both Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford and both of them are under consideration for the top fighter pound-for-pound and both are candidates for the 2017 Fighter of The Year honors. When asked whom he picks he replies: ?It?s a nice problem to have,? said the Hall of Fame promoter. ?I once had a similar problem, in theory, when deciding who was the better center-fielder, Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays... it?s the same damn problem, I couldn't figure it out then or now. They are two really special fighters.? * * * Arum decided not to pick a favorite between his two boxers to keep safe. In 2017, Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs) became the undisputed world junior welterweight champion with a third round knockout of previously undefeated Julius Indongo to unite all the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO titles last July. In May, he stopped Olympic gold medal winner Felix Diaz. * * * Meanwhile, Lomachenko (10-1,8 KOs) pummelled three overmatched opponents and made them quit, and his strength and intensity was just too overpowering for the former champion Jason Sosa, Miguel Marriaga and two-time Olympic gold medallist Guillermo Rigondeaux. So take your pick between the two top pound-for-pound fighter. * * * On April 7 former world champions Carl Frampton and Nonito Donaire will face each othet in Belfast, Northern Ireland. With the match being held in Frampton's home turf, Abner Mares feels the Irishman will have the advantage in the featherweight encounter. "That would be a great fight. That is not an even fight. I think Frampton obviously has the edge, especially over there in the UK but you cannot count Nonito out for sure," said Mares as quoted by BoxingScene. * * * Abner Mares hopes his next fight is a rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. They entangled in an exciting match in August, 2015 which Santa Cruz won by majority decision. The WBA recently mandated both boxers, who get both versions of the WBA featherweight title, to face each other in their next outing. Ringstar Sports promoter Richard Schaefer told BoxingScene that he would like the fight to happen at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California which also hosted their first fight. * * * Abner Mares hopes his next fight is a rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. They entangled in an exciting match in August, 2015 which Santa Cruz won by majority decision. The WBA recently mandated both boxers, who get both versions of the WBA featherweight title, to face each other in their next outing. Ringstar Sports promoter Richard Schaefer told BoxingScene that he would like the fight to happen at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California which also hosted their first fight. * * * Cesar ?Corazon? Juarez is ready to win his world championship when he flies to Ghana later this week and fights Ghanian unbeaten fighter Isaac Dogboe (17-0, 11 KO?s) on January 6 for the interim WBO junior featherweight title in the Bukon Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana and will televised in the United States by Bein Sports. Considered by boxing experts as one of the last true Mexican warriors, Juarez is confident of success in his world title shot. * * * A Mexican fighter who is willing to eat punches to land his blows, Juarez trains in Mexico City for more than two months now to prepare his body for what he considers the most important fight of his career. ?I have proven in my career that I will fight anyone anywhere, anytime and while I get duck all the time I have no problem going to my opponents home to fight. I have the preparation, the talent and the heart to beat anyone in my division and I will prove it against Dogboe,? Juarez told BoxingScene. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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