Milendo vies for WBO crown before hometown fans tonite

ALA Boxing Gym stalwart Milan Melindo hopes to make a noise on the eve of Pacquiao-Barrera II as he takes on Thai hard-puncher Nuapayak Sakkririn for the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific minimumweight crown today at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College in Cagayan de Oro City.

The title has been left vacant after Milendo’s stablemate Donnie “Ahas” Nietes vied for the regular WBO 105-pound championship against the previously unbeaten Thai KO artist Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym last September 30 at the grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Brgy. Lahug.

Nietes hammered out a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Pornsawan to emerge as ALA Stable’s first ever world boxing champion under the aegis of noted boxing patron Antonio “Bidoy” L. Aldeguer.

Also, Nietes became RP’s fourth world title-holder this year after Florante Condes (IBF minimumweight), Nonito Donaire, Jr. (IBF/IBO flyweight), and Gerry Peñalosa (WBO bantamweight).

Melindo, unscathed in a dozen fights dotted with 3KOs, aims to hurdle one obstacle in his bid to follow the footsteps of Nietes when he figures in a 12-round duel against Sakkririn before his hometown fans tonight.

Although he logged most of his wins by decision, Melindo is somehow packed with a killer punch as he flattened three opponents within four rounds, the latest was his four-round demolition of fellow Boholano Arnel Tadena last June 26 at the Bantayan Multi-Purpose Center in Bantayan Island, Cebu.

The 19-year-old Melindo is also expected to bank on his homecourt advantage, but he must not be too complacent as his dynamite-fisted foe Sakkririn is very capable of delivering the upset axe.

Going through his ring credential, Sakkririn is no pushover having won six of his seven fights all via stoppage within five rounds. The only taint in his impressive record was his sixth round loss by decision to Laitai Porthongym last February 21.

Sakkririn readily bounced back from that setback by stopping Sanchai Kiatpilin in round two and then knocking out Rungsavee Taweesub in round four last May 18.