Philippines, 13 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MELINDO TO DEFEND OPBF BELT IN SOUTH KOREA


PhilBoxing.com





Former unified world champion Milan Melindo is set to defend his OPBF featherweight belt against Jong Seon Kang of South Korea on June 24 in South Korea.

"The contract has been signed and the date is set," Victor Cogal, Melindo's manager has informed Philboxing.com.

Melindo (39-5-0, 14KOs) who won world titles at junior flyweight, is on a comeback trail after three successive losses starting from Dec. 31, 2018 when he lost his IBF/WBA 108 lb titles to Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan and then lost to another Japanese Kenshiro Teraji for the WBC light flyweight title on Oct. 7, 2018. Melindo then moved up to super flyweight to fight another Japanese Junto Nakatani on Oct. 5, 2019 but lost by 6th round TKO.

Melindo took a reprieve for more than two years and returned to action in April 2022 as a super featherweight (128 lbs) against Cris Omayao whom he defeated by 6th technical decision.

Melindo's last fight was against grizzled veteran Chaiwat Buatkrathok (39-8-0, 25KOs) of Thailand for the OPBF featherweight title last Jan. 11 in Cebu City. Melindo won that fight comfortably by unanimous decision.

The question is can the 5'2" Melindo hold the fort at this weight? The highly regarded ring technician who goes by the moniker 'El Metodico' performed well against the 5'5" Buatkrathok but this time around he will be facing a 5'8" Korean who has been fighting as a featherweight his entire professional career.

Kang (16-1-2, 9KOs) has already faced four Filipinos in Tomjune Mangubat, John Ray Logatiman, Pete Apolinar and Lienard Sarcon. He won all of them except against Sarcon who dealt the only loss of his career in a fight held last September in Siheung, South Korea where Sarcon sent Kang to the canvas in the 3rd round.

Melindo, needless to say, has literally a tall order in front of him and it remains to be seen if his ring expertise will carry the day or he could be exposed by moonlighting in a weight class that is far too stretched out for him. Melindo has been fighting from 108 to 115 lbs weight classes throughout his career and putting in more than 10 lbs in his small frame to mix it up with the big boys could be a bit risky and dangerous especially if he faces an opponent with loaded hands.

But we'll see if the ring magician from Cagayan de Oro can pull another rabbit out of his hat this time around.

Photo: Melindo (L) in action against Thailand's Buatkrathok last Jan. 11 in Cebu City.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.