Friday, 31 July 2026 · Philippines
News

PETALCORIN: "I HOPE THE YAEGASHI-MELINDO WINNER HAS BALLS TO FIGHT ME"

Former world champion Randy Petalcorin of General Santos City wants to fight the winner of the IBF World light flyweight title-fight between champion Akira Yaegashi and challenger Milan Melindo on May 21 at the Ariake Colosseum in T0kyo, Japan.

?I want to fight the winner. I want Melindo to win but I think Yaegashi has the slight edge to win. I hope the winner has the balls to fight me,? said Petalcorin, who will be watching the fight on live stream at the Sanman Gym.

Yaegashi (25-5-0, 13 KOs) will be making his fourth title defense. He previously stopped Wittawas Basapean via a 12th round TKO also in Tokyo.

Sanman CEO Jim Claude Manangquil said that Petalcorin is also willing to face Melindo (35-2-0, 12 KOs) if the Filipino challenger wins.

?I hope Melindo wins on Sunday so that we will have another world champion, said Manangquil.

?(But) I also hope that he will give Randy a shot when he wins. Same goes to Yaegashi,? said the 24-year old Manangquil.

Petalcorin (26-2-1, 19 KOs) is a former interim WBA world light flyweight champion. He recently won the vacant IBF Pan Pacific light flyweight title and is ranked number 4 by the IBF.

Manangquil said that ?there is really nothing wrong with an all-Pinoy title fight.?

?I think this is one of the things we need to accept to bring back the glory day of Philippine boxing,? said Manangquil.

Comments

Share your thoughts on the above article.

Read our community comment guidelines here