MILAN Melindo is out to impress and put on a boxing clinic in his fight this Saturday night in Top Rank?s boxing event that will be shown worldwide.
Not every boxing fan understands the intricacies of boxing and Melindo wants to educate the casual fans by displaying the beauty of the sweet science in his 10-round non-title bout with WBO No. 1 ranked light flyweight Tommy Seran at the Venetian Casino and Resort in Macau.
?It will be a great fight. Lots of people will be watching it not only in the Philippines but also worldwide. This will be a stepping stone for me to be known by the people all over the world. It will be a big exposure for me. It will be a huge challenge for me to impress the people. To show the people what boxing is all about, that it is not just throwing punches but rather a science. That going inside the ring is not that easy,? Melindo told Sun.Star Cebu.
This is the unbeaten Melindo?s biggest exposure and one of the most crucial bouts in his career because a win should earn him a crack at the WBO flyweight title.
The current titleholder is fellow Filipino Brian Viloria, who is defending both his WBO and World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight belts against Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada in the main event.
A shot at a world title for Melindo is long overdue. He has been at the top of the flyweight ladder for years now but somehow he has never fought for the title.
?I would fight anywhere as long as it is for a world title. I don?t care where I fight but it would be better in my opponent?s territory so that I will earn respect,? said Melindo, 28-0 with 11 knockouts.
The 29-year-old Seran of Indonesia is 23-1 with 14 knockouts and is the current WBO Asia-Pacific light flyweight champion.
?He is a top caliber Indonesian fighter. He is a pressure fighter and is good moving forward,? said Edito Villamor, Melindo?s trainer. ?We plan on forcing him to move backwards. We are also going to watch out for his overhand right.?
Brothers Dodie Jr. and Dave Pe?alosa will also see action.
Dodie Jr. is taking on Ngaotawan Sithsaithong, while Dave faces Cheroenchai Sithsaithong.
