Philippines, 30 May 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Melindo 100% Confident of Capturing Another World Title When He Challenges WBC Champ Ken Shiro on Oct 7 in Yokohama


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU ? Former IBF world champion Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo is fully confident of becoming a world champion again when he challenges WBC world flyweight champion Ken Shiro on Oct. 7 in Yokohama, Japan.

Although Melindo's trainer Edmund Villamor gave his ward an 80% chance of defeating the Japanese, Melindo, who had 40 fights under him and all his three losses were during world title fights, gave himself a 100% chance of defeating Shiro who had only 13 fights in his professional career.

?I will use my vast experience to defeat Shiro. I am 100% confident of winning this fight and I will make sure I'll win this fight,? Melindo, 30, told local scribes during a send-off presscon at the Summit Hotel here along Fuente Osme?a Circle Thursday afternoon.

As to why the WBC No. 5 ranked Melindo was handpicked by the WBC champ, ALA matchmaker Edito Villamor said that Milan has fought twice in Japan on national television ? first against popular long time Japanese champion Akira Yeagashi on May 21, 2107 whom Melindo stopped in the very first round and against WBA champion Ryoichi Taguchi in a unification fight last Dec. 31, 2107 whom Melindo lost by unanimous decision.


Milan 'El Metodico' Melindo (C) and his trainer Edmund Villamor and ALA matchmaker Edito Villamor answer questions from the Cebu media during Thursday's press conference at The Summit Circle along Fuente Osme?a in Cebu City.

?They will be able to sell Milan on Japanese TV. I think that's why they handpicked him,? Villamor said. ?Also if they'll beat Milan, Shiro's stock will surely rise. So they took the risk. They probably saw something in Milan that made them believed Shiro will beat him but we are very confident of our chances of winning this fight.?

Edmund Villamor said that Shiro is a good boxer and they expect the Japanese to use his agility to do a hit and run tactic against Melindo. ?That's what we've been preparing in the gym because we know Shiro is going to box against Milan. And we're ready to disrupt his style when he does that,? Villamor said.

?The boxer who is able to dictate the tempo of this fight ? to force the other boxer to fight the style of his opponent, wins this fight,? Melindo said.

Melindo, who had trouble making weight in his last fight against Taguchi, said he has no problem this time. ?The WBC rules of having a 30-day weighin and then a 7-day weighin before the fight helps me regulate my weight,? Melindo, who weighed in at 118 lbs during the 30-day weighin last Sep. 7, said. He is scheduled to make the 7-day weighin on Monday at the Cebu GAB office and should make no more than 112 lbs, 4 lbs over the flyweight weight limit 108 lbs.

Melindo (37-3-0, 13KOs) first challenged for a world title against then WBO and WBA world flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico on July 27, 2013 in Macau where he lost by unanimous decision. Two years later on May 30, 2015 in Mexico, Melindo fall short when he lost to Mexican IBF light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza. Finally Melindo captured the Interim IBF world light flyweight belt when he defeated Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr on Nov. 26, 2016 in Cebu and captured the full title with the shock dismantling of Akira Yaegashi on May 21, 2017 in Tokyo. Melindo defended the title once against Hekkie Budler of South Africa on Sep. 16, 2017 in Cebu before losing it to Ryoichi Taguchi last new year's eve.

Shiro (13-0-0, 7KOs), 26, captured his current belt by defeating then defending champ Ganigan Lopez of Mexico in Tokyo on May 20, 2017 and had successfully defended it thrice ? against Pedro Guevarra, Gilberto Pedroza and a rematch with Lopez last May.

A loss here by the Japanese will not be the end of the world for him as he has time on his side to rebuild his career and at 5'5? in height, he could easily go north to campaign in the heavier division. A loss by Melindo however, especially if it's a bad one, could spell the doom of his stellar career.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo to Defend Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Titles Against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Canoy now trains at MP Davao for Collazo's fight
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Johann Chua claims Duya Airplay Sport 5800 Charity Cup Crown, pockets US$50,000 tops prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • “While others debate governance, the IBA continues to deliver.” IBA CEO & Secretary General Chris Roberts OBE on the organisation’s resilience and global ambition
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • MP Pro Announces Signed Undefeated Prospects J'Hon Ingram, Amir Anderson, David Lopez, and Kayla Gomez to Compete on "Pugilist Revolution" June 19 in Long Beach, California
    , Sat, 30 May 2026
  • Canoy to challenge Collazo on June 20
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • UNDEFEATED SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNIE ALVAREZ RETURNS TO THE RING ON JUNE 13 IN GLENDALE, ARIZONA
    , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • 20 Matchups Set for 2026 Final X, presented by Kerberos Capital Management, To Determine 2026 USA Wrestling World Championship Teams
    , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • RJJ Boxing & “RJJ Saving the Kids” Presents World Boxing Association International Middleweight Championship! Natasha “The Nightmare” Spence and Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo
    , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • Taguig boxing clinic starts
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 May 2026
  • Brico Santig Wins IBF “Most Active Promoter” Award
    , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • FOSTER AND FORD IN FIERY FACE-OFF IN HOUSTON
    , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • Tank Davis could return later this year
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • GM Joey Antonio to compete in Asean Sr chessfest in Singapore
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • Murat Gassiev to defend his WBA Heavyweight crown against Yoka at IBA PRO 19
    , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • ‘Not a Kid Anymore.’ Edward Vazquez Talks About How He’s Matured While Training to Face Daniel Lugo on ProBoxTV in Friday, June 5, Main Event
    , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • Remulla, Ferrer, Matro to grace Cavite Inter-Town Chess Tournament this weekend
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 May 2026
  • McHugh next for Dy
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • Sweat, Smiles & Strategy: Ador Torres Helps Tim Tszyu Sharpen Up for Errol Spence
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • Benavidez receives the Tollan Tlatequi WBC belt in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • Llover ready to fight Angeletti on June 6
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • Tyson Fury could return in Dublin on August 1st
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • Long After the Cheers: Luisito Espinosa…Battle of Manila Bay 2…and an Unofficial World Record Worth Remembering
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • Undefeated Knockout Artist Jordan Orozco (16-0, 16 KOs) Continues Rapid Ascent as One of Boxing’s Most Exciting Young Stars
    , Wed, 27 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures 13 Medals at 2026 Copa America
    , Wed, 27 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.