Philippines, 11 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


?TUMBAHUN TIKA!? - Esquer


PhilBoxing.com




Cebu City ? Juan ?Panterita? Esquer of Mexico surprised everyone when he spoke in Cebuano to Milan ?Metodico? Melindo.

?Tumbahun tika? which means ?I will knock you out.?. Only two words, but it was enough to elicit applause from the sportswriters who attended the press conference held Thursday noon at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.

It was Melindo who started throwing verbal jabs, saying that ?He should try to knock me out early, If not, I will knock him out.?

?If he is wiser than me, he can beat me,? Melindo added. ?If not he can beat me in his dreams.?

?I am prepared,? Esquer said, ?I am confident and I came here to win in your house. You will see on Saturday how Melindo will fall down.?

?I prepared for this fight but for a world title fight. This will be an easy fight for me.? Melindo retorted.

?His words do not shock me,? Esquer countered, ?I have faced many world champions. To me he (Melindo) is a newbie. I hope the judges will not help him. I hope this fight will not be stolen from me like what happened with Ivan Calderon.?

ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer is looking for a world title shot for Melindo, who is defending his WBO Intercontinental flyweight title.

?We will look at the offers,? Aldeguer said, ?We will keep fighting and prepare him for the title shot.?

ALA Gym trainer Edito Villamor predicted a knockout ending for the main event of Pinoy Pride XI.

In the main supporting bout, fans will get to see if Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva's power and 90 percent KO rate is for real when he squares off against tough Mexican Diego ?Tyson? Ledesma.

Villanueva said his strength and punching power is something that came naturally for him but he feels he needs to improve on a lot of things like his foot work.


Melindo (L) and Esquer.


Villanueva (L) and Ledesma.


Macahilig (L) and Vorapin.


Sabillo (L) and Effendi.


Minoza (L) and Kim.

?This will be a great fight,? Villanueva predicted, ?both of us will not back down.?

?I come to fight,? Ledesma vowed, ?There will be no back step, all forward movement. I have not seen Villanueva's fights but I am not going to be surprised because I am prepared.?

Mhar Jhun ?Astig? Macahilig will be pitted against Kaichon Sor Vorapin, who owns the distinction of beating current OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes twice.

Macahilig said that he does not feel any pressure going into this fight, ?There will be only two of us inside thr ing and I am sure of winning.?

OPBF minimumweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo of Bacolod City will fight for the first time in Cebu against Indonesian minimumweight champion Soffyan Effendi.

Sabillo experienced sparring at the ALA gym when he was a four rounder but spent his early pro career in Bacolod. He retruned to the ALA gym last year and was one of the sparring partners of two-division world champion Donnie Nietes. Sabillo has also sparred with Macahilig and Melindo to prepare for this fight.

Joseph Von Minoza will trade punches with Korean Yoo Shin Kim. Minoza is ranked in the OPBF and is another prospect to watch.

Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs the World will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino this Saturday. Gates will open at 5 PM.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Eternal Contender: Inside Nonito Donaire’s Record-Breaking Title Run
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • Boxing trio reunited up there
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • 1st CK Ingles Chess Kings Set to Kick Off
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • Zhu Outguns "The Assassin" Ian Abne in Cebu Thriller, Earns Shot at IBF Champ Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Arañas Survives Harsh Knockdown, Stops Noynay to Claim WBF Strap in Cebu (Fist of Fury X Results)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Mindoro faces strong Mexican opponent
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Blood, Grit, and Iron: Zhu Outlasts Abne in a Cebu War
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Tickets ON SALE NOW for Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia bags gold in ASEAN E-Sports chess qualifying round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Wardley vs Dubois: Heavyweight Tussle in Manchester
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Fireworks Expected as Cebu's Arañas and Noynay Rumble for WBF Silver Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis: "Nahir Albright’s Going To Be the Fourth Guy I Stop in a Row!"
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Cinco De Mayo, A Historic Celebration Of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Abne, Zhu Make Weight for IBF Eliminator in Cebu; Winner Fights Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Laurente to promote amateur boxing
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • ‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Kenia Enriquez Signs Multi-Year Contract with Latin KO Promotions
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • FM Habla, Madriaga win Armageddon for IIEE-PSME Quezon City in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Undefeated heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor Graduates to 10-rounder this Saturday in Atlanta
    , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • Jonas Magpantay bags P300,000 with Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer 10-Ball title win
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 06 May 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.