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ALA Promotions launches PP XI - PHILIPPINES VS THE WORLD By Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing.com Sat, 07 Jan 2012  Milan Melindo. Cebu City ? Boxing fans will get witness six foreign boxers matched up against their Filipino counterparts this January 28. The thinking man?s pocket warrior Milan ?Metodico? Melindo (25W-0L, 9 KO?s) will headline the blockbuster Pinoy Pride XI fight card and he will defend his WBO Intercontinental flyweight title against Mexican veteran Juan ?Panterita? Esquer (27W-9L-2D, 21 KO?s). Esquer lost to Ivan Calderon in 2007 in his lone attempt to win a world title. Esquer?s resume shows a lot of familiar names ? Hernan Marquez, Luis Concepcion, Manuel Vargas, Jesus Iribe and Gilberto Keb Baas. Their common opponent is former IBF world lt.flyweight champion Carlos Tamara. Melindo beat Tamara by a unanimous decision last November 2010 while Esquer lost to Tamara in 2008 by unanimous decision in Florida for the WBC/WBO Latino and WBA Fedecentro lt.flyweight titles. In his last fight, the 25 year old Esquer lost to Ricardo Nu?ez by disqualification in the 7th round in a fight marred by low blows. Filipino fans may remember Nu?ez as the Panamanian who lost to Drian Francisco by 5th round knockout in 2010. ?I have seen fight videos of Esquer,? Melindo said, ?We have prepared well for him but I did not see the video of his fight against Nu?ez. But I am not expecting the same thing will happen. That was their fight. I am a different fighter. I am a thinking fighter.? The 23 year old Melindo has been knocking on the door for a world title challenge since he beat former IBF minimumweight champ Muhamad Rachman and Tamara. The best pure puncher in the Philippines, Lorenzo ?Thunderbolt? Villanueva (21-0-1NC, 20 KO?s), will face another Mexican, Diego ?Tyson? Ledesma (18-4-2, 12 KO?s). This will be the first time Villanueva will fight a Latino boxer and this will be Ledesma?s first bout outside of Mexico. Villanueva holds the WBO Oriental featherweight title and is ranked number five in the WBO world rankings. He said he will try his best to maintain his high KO percentage in this ten rounder. Mhar jhun Macahilig (13-1, 7 KO?s) will fight Thailand?s Kaichon Sor Vorapin (25-10, 9 KO?s) in an eight round contest. Vorapin?s boxrec record shows two wins against Rocky Fuentes and losses to Muhamad Rachman and Nonito Donaire. Macahilig has beaten Filipino contenders Jermie Jabel and Mark Anthony Geraldo. He will be facing his first foreign foe. OPBF minimumweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo (16-0, 7 KO?s) will fight Indonesian Sofyan ?The Cobra? Effendi (11-11-2, 9 KO?s) in an 8 round non-title match. This will be the unbeaten Sabillo?s debut in Cebu as he has fought all of his fights in Bacolod City. Sabillo said that he will try his best to entertain the Cebuano fans. He has built a reputation as an all action fighter and will be tested against the Indonesian. Joseph Von Minoza (12-2, 5 KO?s) will be matched up against Yoo Shin Kim (8-2, 6 KO?s) of South Korea in another 8 rounder . Minoza has won three of his last five fights by the short route. Kim has beaten Filipino boxers Greg Mangan and Ruben Santillanosa but lost to Ciso Morales. Alvin Arresgado (1W-0L) will be pitted against Japan?s Kazuya Harada (0W-1L) in a four rounder. A ?World Trophy? is at stake and will be awarded to the winning team determined by the results of the first five matches. The undercards will feature the rematch between the comical Jun ?Flash? Intor and Crispin Parba (4 rounds); Parba lost by majority decision to Intor last November in Maasin City, Mark Acub vs Samuel Galinato (6 rounds) and Ivor Lastrilla vs Jicky Gako (6 rounds). Pinoy Pride XI will be held at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. 
Team Philippines (L-R): Merlito Sabillo, Marjhun Makahilig, Milan Melindo, ALA President Michael Aldeguer, Lorenzo Villanueva, Joseph Von Minoza and trainer Edito Villamor pose with the World Trophy which is at stake at the 'Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs The World slated on Jan. 28, 2012 at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City. Photo by Dong Secuya. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..  |
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