CRITICIZED for underachieving and believed to be on a slide after his loss to Juan Francisco Estrada, Milan Melindo is out to prove his doubters wrong.
Melindo (34-2, 24 KOs) wants to show everybody he still has what it takes and is looking for an impressive win over No. 3 ranked Fahlan Sakkreerin (31-4-1, 16 KOs) in their interim International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight fight in the main event of Pinoy Pride 39 at the Cebu Coliseum on Nov. 26.
?As boxers our priority is to get the crowd to enjoy the fight. That is what I will do. After the Estrada fight they said that I?m already going down. I want to prove everybody that I?m still here,? said the 28-year-old Melindo.
Melindo?s naysayers are added inspiration for the IBF No. 6 ranked light flyweight to work even harder and prove them wrong.
?I have trained harder. I always put in my mindset to give the crowd a good show. I want to show them a more improved Milan Melindo,? he said.
World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 1 ranked light welterweight Jason Pagara (39-2, 24 KOs) tests the welterweight waters when he takes on former world champion Jose Alfaro (28-10-1, 24 Kos).
?He should not be taken lightly because he is a good fighter,? said Jason, who is on a 12-fight winning streak. ?I have seen a few videos of him and his weakness is his body.?
The 22-year-old Albert Pagara will also try to bounce back from his first defeat as he takes on former World Boxing Association Pan African super bantamweight titleholder Raymond Commey (16-3, 9 KOs).
?I want to come back to where I was before (the loss),? said Albert. ?I?m back to zero and I want to move back up (to championship level).?
Albert is coming off an eight- round knockout at the hands of Cesar Juarez in July in San Mateo, California.
After the loss, Albert admitted that he was depressed and contemplated on hanging up his gloves. But he found his renewed vigor after constant support from his wife, Rosa Marry, family and friends.
?I really wanted to rest already. But the everybody kept on urging me on Facebook not to stop. Even my wife and my family kept telling me not to give up,? he said.
In the undercard, Jeo Santisima (11-2, 10 KOs) faces Rex Wao (11-3, 9 KOs) in a fight between heavy-hitters, Jimmy Paypa (18-3-1, 6 KOs) squares off with Jerry Nardo (21-9, 11 KOs), Jonas Sultan (11-3, 7 KOs) locks horns with Jonathan Francisco (8-6-1, 2 KOs), Melvin Jerusalem (10-0, 7 KOs) trades leathers with Bonjon Loperez (10-5-1, 5 KOs) and unbeaten Kevin Jake Cataraja (4-0, 3 KOs) slugs it out with John Keenan Villaflor (6-1-2, 2 KOs).
