ARTHUR Villanueva and Milan Melindo are back to their winning ways, but only after going through tough fights last Saturday in Pinoy Pride 34 – ?Back with a Vengeance? at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City.
Villanueva captured the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International super flyweight strap with a split decision over 22-year-old Mexican Victor Mendez. Filipino judges Benigno Pe?afiel and Samson Libres saw Villanueva winning, 116-112 and 117-111, respectively while Mexican judge Humberto Olivarez gave it to Mendez, 115-113.
Villanueva was the aggressor most of the night, throwing punches in bunches, despite occasionally missing his mark.
?It was a good fight. It was a close fight. The fans enjoyed it. Mendez really came to fight. I think what is important is that Arthur showed that he is aggressive and threw more combinations. He fought a good fight,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer said.
Villanueva improved to 28-1 with 14 knockouts and bounced back from his first career defeat, a controversial technical decision loss to McJoe Arroyo in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight fight a few months ago.
Mendez suffered yet another close loss and dropped to 19-3 with 15 knockouts.
?It was a very difficult fight. He was a very good fighter and had a huge reach advantage. I could not connect with my jab because of his reach advantage. If I landed my jab I could have set up bigger punches,? said the soft-spoken Villanueva, both eyes swollen. ?If I want to fight for a world title, I have to train even harder.?
Melindo (33-2, 12 KOs), on the other hand, threw enough punches to walk away with a split decision victory against game 19-year-old last-minute replacement Victor Emmanuel Olivo (9-1, 4 Kos).
The 27-year-old Melindo lived up to his promise of making it an exciting war. He was very aggressive and at times reckless, nothing like the usual Milan Melindo that has a tactical and patient approach to a fight.
Despite taking more punishment than he usually does, Melindo?s new style paid off as he pulled the crowd up on their feet every time he would come in and brawl with Olivo.
?Olivo also did a good job against Milan,? said Aldeguer. ?Milan made the fight closer than what it should have been. We will sit down with him and learn what?s in his head. It wasn?t the tactical Milan that we are used to seeing.?
Judges Salven Lagumbay and Edgar Olalo had it 96-94 for Melindo, while Edward Ligas saw Olivo, a sparring partner of world champion Juan Francisco Estrada, winning, 96-94.
Melindo bounced back from a technical decision defeat to IBF light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza in his second attempt at a world title.
