DAVAO CITY ? The long wait is finally over.
Undefeated No. 1 contender Milan Melindo gets his long overdue world title shot as he challenges World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada on July 27 in Macau.
?We got a letter from Top Rank formalizing the fight on July 27 in Macau,? ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer disclosed yesterday. ?We are still waiting for more details.?
Melindo, 29-0 with 12 knockouts, has been the No. 1 ranked flyweight in the WBO for some time and finally earned his title shot after a fourth round stoppage over WBO No. 1 rated light flyweight Tommy Seran in Macau last April 6, a performance that impressed Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum.
MANILA. Milan Melindo drops Colombian boxer Jesus Geles for the WBO International flyweight championship division held at Resorts World Hotel in Manila. (Sun.Star Cebu file)
Melindo, who is still on vacation in his native Cagayan de Oro, will start his training camp tomorrow.
Aldeguer said that they plan to send Melindo to the US as part of his preparation for the biggest fight of the 25-year-old boxer.
?Milan wants to go to the States. Maybe train at the House of Boxing in San Diego or at the Wild Card Gym and sweat it out there as part of his training camp,? he said.
The 23-year-old Estrada, 23-2 with 18 knockouts, won the unified WBO and WBA flyweight belts after dethroning Filipino-Hawaiian Brian Viloria by split decision on the same event in Macau.
Another unbeaten up-and-comer could also be scheduled in the undercard of the upcoming Macau event.
Genesis Servania has been tapped by Top Rank to be one of the boxers included in another blockbuster boxing card in Macau.
?Top Rank is interested in Genesis Servania. They want to sign him. They plan on Servania to be in the undercard. But nothing is final yet,? said Aldeguer.
Servania, 19-0 with seven knockouts, has rose up the super bantamweight ladder after impressive wins against some prominent names in the division the likes of former world title contenders Angky Angkota and Genaro Garcia.
In wake of the losses of three of the boxing superstars of the Philippines Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr. and Viloria ? Melindo and Servania could may as well be the new hope that country badly needs.
?It?s about time that these young fighters step up,? said Aldeguer.
