Shortly after Milan Melindo made short work of Akira Yaegashi to win the International Boxing Federation light-flyweight crown in Tokyo last Sunday, Michael Aldeguer?s phone started acting up.
?Got calls, offers to fight in South Africa, the UK and in Japan,? said Aldeguer, admitting that he was totally shocked with what Melindo did to the iron-jawed Yaegashi.
Even the Philippines, by way of TV network ABS-CBN, immediately reached out to them, saying it is keen on staging Melindo as a headliner for Pinoy Pride 42.
?We?ll look for the best out there,? said Aldeguer, who was one of over 6,000 people who watched in awe as Melindo dropped Yaegashi thrice for a first-round knockout win at the Ariake Coliseum.
?The plan was to go to the body and when Yaegashi opens up, to drop the right to the head,? said Aldeguer.
But what happened blew him away.
?Yaegashi is tough and he showed it when he fought (Nicaraguan great) Roman Gonzalez and it was a shock to see Milan take him out in just one round,? said Aldeguer.
Melindo, the country?s 40th world champion, returned to Cebu City from Tokyo Tuesday night and on hand to welcome him at Mactan International was Cebu boxing godfather Tony Aldeguer, who embraced the fighter as soon as he stepped out of the terminal.
With tears in his eyes, Melindo hugged Aldeguer and then exchanged pleasantries with stablemates who welcomed him as well.
In the meantime, Aldeguer is giving Melindo, 29, about two weeks to savor his victory, only the third time that a Filipino fighter won a world title on a first-round knockout.
?Then he has to get back to the gym as we will probably know what?s right in store for him next month,? he added.
