BRIMMING with self-confidence, former world champion Muhammad Rachman treats his Saturday night clash with world-rated ALA warrior Milan ?Milenyo? Melindo as a mere tune-up fight.
Rachman, who arrived in Cebu City yesterday with trainer Alex Rabaleta and manager Martinez Dos Santos, admitted that his sole purpose for coming here in the Philippines was to get himself busy for his upcoming world title war with World Boxing Council mini-flyweight titlist Oleydong Sithsanerchai this summer.
?I have come to the Philippines for a tune-up fight against a very good boxer,? Rachman said confidently in his native tongue, which was translated by Dos Santos, in a press conference at the Patio Isabel in Banilad.
The 37-year-old veteran Indonesian fighter is confident that he will win his 10-round fight with the much younger Melindo, who is ranked No.1 in the World Boxing Organization, at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino this Saturday.
?He is optimistic that his experience will win the fight. Sofyan Effendi said that Melindo is a good boxer but Rachman came here to fight,? said Dos Santos.
Racman has a total of 73 fights compared to the 21-year-old Melindo?s 17 professional battles.
Rachman, who is ranked No.4 in the IBF, assured the Filipino boxing fans a fight worth watching, as he will show his aggressiveness and look to knockout the up-and-coming Cebu-based pugilist.
?I will fight my best to entertain the Filipinos. I will press the fight in the very first round,? said Rachman. ?I will look for a knockout or a knockdown if given the chance.?
Rachman said that he is not in this fight for the money but for popularity because like the Philippines? prized fighter Manny Pacquiao, who ran for Congress in 2007, he too plans to run for a seat at the parliament in Indonesia?s elections in April.
He will be going up against an unlikely opponent, his promoter, Temuzin Rambing who is with the opposing party.
A win for him this Saturday could boost his popularity in Indonesia. According to Dos Santos, he is the second most popular boxer in his country behind world champion Chris John.
Rachman will be fighting only his third fight outside of Indonesia. He hasn?t had much success in his fights outside his country, with a loss from Mongkol Charoen and a draw with Yoddoi Singchatchawal in Thailand.
Z ?The Dream? Gorres will co-headline the ?Judgment at the Waterfront? promotion. Like his stable mate, he will also be facing a former world champion Roberto Leyva of Mexico, for the vacant WBO Oriental bantamweight crown.
