Philippines, 24 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Melindo 100% Confident of Capturing Another World Title When He Challenges WBC Champ Ken Shiro on Oct 7 in Yokohama


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU ? Former IBF world champion Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo is fully confident of becoming a world champion again when he challenges WBC world flyweight champion Ken Shiro on Oct. 7 in Yokohama, Japan.

Although Melindo's trainer Edmund Villamor gave his ward an 80% chance of defeating the Japanese, Melindo, who had 40 fights under him and all his three losses were during world title fights, gave himself a 100% chance of defeating Shiro who had only 13 fights in his professional career.

?I will use my vast experience to defeat Shiro. I am 100% confident of winning this fight and I will make sure I'll win this fight,? Melindo, 30, told local scribes during a send-off presscon at the Summit Hotel here along Fuente Osme?a Circle Thursday afternoon.

As to why the WBC No. 5 ranked Melindo was handpicked by the WBC champ, ALA matchmaker Edito Villamor said that Milan has fought twice in Japan on national television ? first against popular long time Japanese champion Akira Yeagashi on May 21, 2107 whom Melindo stopped in the very first round and against WBA champion Ryoichi Taguchi in a unification fight last Dec. 31, 2107 whom Melindo lost by unanimous decision.


Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo (C) and his trainer Edmund Villamor and ALA matchmaker Edito Villamor answer questions from the Cebu media during Thursday's press conference at The Summit Circle along Fuente Osme?a in Cebu City.

?They will be able to sell Milan on Japanese TV. I think that's why they handpicked him,? Villamor said. ?Also if they'll beat Milan, Shiro's stock will surely rise. So they took the risk. They probably saw something in Milan that made them believed Shiro will beat him but we are very confident of our chances of winning this fight.?

Edmund Villamor said that Shiro is a good boxer and they expect the Japanese to use his agility to do a hit and run tactic against Melindo. ?That's what we've been preparing in the gym because we know Shiro is going to box against Milan. And we're ready to disrupt his style when he does that,? Villamor said.

?The boxer who is able to dictate the tempo of this fight ? to force the other boxer to fight the style of his opponent, wins this fight,? Melindo said.

Melindo, who had trouble making weight in his last fight against Taguchi, said he has no problem this time. ?The WBC rules of having a 30-day weighin and then a 7-day weighin before the fight helps me regulate my weight,? Melindo, who weighed in at 118 lbs during the 30-day weighin last Sep. 7, said. He is scheduled to make the 7-day weighin on Monday at the Cebu GAB office and should make no more than 112 lbs, 4 lbs over the flyweight weight limit 108 lbs.

Melindo (37-3-0, 13KOs) first challenged for a world title against then WBO and WBA world flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico on July 27, 2013 in Macau where he lost by unanimous decision. Two years later on May 30, 2015 in Mexico, Melindo fall short when he lost to Mexican IBF light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza. Finally Melindo captured the Interim IBF world light flyweight belt when he defeated Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr on Nov. 26, 2016 in Cebu and captured the full title with the shock dismantling of Akira Yaegashi on May 21, 2017 in Tokyo. Melindo defended the title once against Hekkie Budler of South Africa on Sep. 16, 2017 in Cebu before losing it to Ryoichi Taguchi last new year's eve.

Shiro (13-0-0, 7KOs), 26, captured his current belt by defeating then defending champ Ganigan Lopez of Mexico in Tokyo on May 20, 2017 and had successfully defended it thrice ? against Pedro Guevarra, Gilberto Pedroza and a rematch with Lopez last May.

A loss here by the Japanese will not be the end of the world for him as he has time on his side to rebuild his career and at 5'5? in height, he could easily go north to campaign in the heavier division. A loss by Melindo however, especially if it's a bad one, could spell the doom of his stellar career.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Spence vs Tszyu Fight Analysis and Prediction
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • “BUTTERFLY BRAWL” MARKS RETURN TO ICONIC SANTA MONICA PIER
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • AIM Jerick Faeldonia vying for Bangkok chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM THURSDAY ROUNDUP: Scale Shock in Pattaya, Red Sea Staredowns, and Final Countdown to Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • USA Boxing Sends Eight Boxers to Italy for International Duel
    , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • P248k prize on the line in Moon Cake Festival Pro Amateur 10-ball tournament at Pacman's Cue Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • Super Lightweight Contender Frank “The Ghost” Martin Inks Promotional Pact with Top Rank
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Thu, 23 Jul 2026
  • DUELING TUNE-UPS: Joshua and Fury Play High-Stakes Chicken Across Asia with November Mega-Fight Hanging in the Balance
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Chavon Stillwell and Izaiah Dent Put Their Perfect Records on the Line in a Can't-Miss Main Event at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights"
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Unbeaten Bizhamov faces Mironchikov in IBA Pro 20 main event in Naberezhnye Chelny
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Cuarto ready to fight Paradero
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • CHAVES DEFENDS WBO LATINO TITLE AGAINST GARCIA AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NJ ON SEPT 4
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • Undefeated Middleweight Prospect Sebastian Juarez Returns August 8 Against Rance Ward
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and WBC Cares visits Pedro Fiorito Hospital in Avellaneda, Argentina
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 22 Jul 2026
  • COLD SHOULDER IN SYDNEY: Spence and Tszyu Trade Snubs and Staredowns at Grand Arrivals Launch
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Suarez, Lewkowicz Ask the WBO to Enforce Navarrete Rematch and Begin Negotiations Immediately
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 20 JULY 2026: Papot Outpoints Eubank; Pacheco Stops Aleem; Suarez Smokes Avila in One Round
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Fiery Exchange at Fanatics Fest: Garcia and Benn Nearly Brawl in New York Ahead of Sept. 12 Title Clash
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • John Michael Zulueta Headlines in Highland Show July 25 in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Results from Dominican Republic: Alberto Puello Stops Ángel Bolaño in 3
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Matchroom Boxing reveals major fights in UK & Ireland schedule from August to October
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Colombia National Congress Awarded "Kid Pambelé" with Grand Cross Knight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • MILO Marathon returns to Davao on August 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • PHILBOXING.COM WEEKEND ROUNDUP: News, Fallout, and the Long Shadow of Sydney
    By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026
  • Joe Hand Promotions Secures Commercial Rights for Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu Showdown
    , Tue, 21 Jul 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.