MILAN Melindo is just a win away from his long overdue world title shot. And with that in mind, he isn?t taking any chances on his April 6 fight in Top Rank?s blockbuster boxing show at the Venetian Casino and Resort in Macau.
?He is very focused as Milan is aware that he is one fight away before a title shot,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
The undefeated Melindo is up against Indonesian star Tommy Seran in a 10-round non-title fight.
This is a do-or-die fight for Melindo because a win should catapult him to a world title shot, while a loss could jeopardize his chance at that title shot that he has been waiting for.
ALA Promotions is optimistic that if Melindo beats Seran, he will get a shot against the winner of the bout between World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight king Brian Viloria and Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada (22-2, 18 KOs), the main event of the Macau card.
?I believe so and this is long overdue. We are looking at August for the title fight of Milan,? said Aldeguer.
Melindo, 28-0 with 11 knockouts, is the mandatory challenger for the WBO flyweight title.
Seran, on the other hand, has an impressive 23-1 slate with 14 knockouts. He is the current WBO Asia-Pacific light flyweight titleholder.
?I have watched Tommy Seran fight and he is a good foe for Milan to earn his spot as the WBO No.1 at 108 pounds. Milan will have to show his versatility and his superior skills to dominate the fight,? said Aldeguer.
The 29-year-old Seran is ranked No. 1 in the WBO light flyweight division. He is also ranked 11th in the WBA.
The Macau event also features two young Filipino prospects?the unbeaten Pe?alosa brothers of Cebu City.
Dodie Boy Pe?alosa Jr. (10-0, 10 KOs) will take on the unheralded Ngaotawan Sithsaithong (10-9-1, 5 KOs), while younger sibling Dave Pe?alosa (5-0, 3 KOs) Cheroenchai Sithsaithong (4-4, 3 KOs).
