Now that he?s made weight, Milan Melindo will face the daunting task of defending his IBF junior flyweight title against a highly prolific puncher in Hekkie ?Hexecutioner? Budler of South Africa on Saturday.
?El Metodico? struggled to make weight during Friday?s weigh-in ceremony and was forced to shed the extra 1.75 pounds just to make the 108-pound limit.
Boxing analyst Ed Tolentino said Melindo will now have to direct all his focus on beating a tough challenger in Budler.
?One thing about being a world champ, it means no more freebies,? Tolentino told ABS-CBN News. ?You are taking on challengers who worked their way up in the rankings and are out to take the crown. Budler is that kind of fellow.?
Budler is a former WBA minimumweight champion and current IBO junior flyweight title holder with a record of 32 wins and 2 defeats.
Tolentino said the South African fights at a high pace and this will put Melindo?s conditioning to a serious test.
?[He] offers a whirlwind offense that will put to test Melindo’s condition,? he said.
?Melindo’s condition has always been suspect although he now has a conditioning coach. In a war of attrition, like the one he had with Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada some 4 years ago, that’s where Melindo’s stamina is put to test.?
Melindo lost that one, gassing out in the latter rounds to yield a unanimous verdict against Estrada.
Tolentino, however, believes the Filipino champion has a slight edge over the visiting challenger.
?I feel he is at his best at junior flyweight. I also believe that the counter-punching approach of Milan is the ideal antidote to the swarming offense of Budler,? he said.
?It?s all about timing for Milan. He must avoid prolonged exchanges and make Budler come to him.?
