Melindo set to face former world champ

CEBU, Philippines - The Melindo-Geles showdown serves as the supporting main event of Donnie Nietes' WBO light flyweight title defense against the streaking Mexican Felipe Salguero headlining the slambang card put up by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.

Sporting an unblemished 26-0 record packed with 10KOs, the 24-year-old Melindo is the reigning WBO Intercontinental 112-pound titlist. In his previous bout, the pride of Cagayan de Oro City pulled off a masterful seventh round stoppage of Mexico's Juan Esquer last January 28 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Though skillful, highly-trained and replete with experience, Melindo should not, in any way, underestimate Geles, who brings along with him a 13-2 win-loss record dotted with 5KOs.

Geles once held the interim WBO light flyweight belt after beating Omar Soto by majority decision on October 30, 2010 at the Centro de Convenciones in Cartagena, Colombia. He, however, failed in his bid to wrest the regular WBO crown after being knocked out in the fourth round by Mexican Ramon Garcia Hirales on April 30 last year at the Foro Polanco in Mexico City.

Hirales was eventually dethroned by Nietes on October 8, 2011 at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Coliseum in Bacolod City.

Nietes will make the first defense of the title he snatched from Hirales against Salguero (16-2-1, 11KOs), ranked No.7 by the WBO who is on a 14-fight winning streak.

In the other must-see bout underneath the Nietes-Salguero duel, the undefeated super bantamweight prospect Genesis "Azukal" Servania will slug it out with the 'real' Genaro 'Poblanito' Garcia, who was originally contracted by ALA Promotions to go up against Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista in the "Pinoy Pride XII" last March 3 at the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City.

Unfortunately, the Genaro Garcia who was sent by ALA's Mexican contact Hugo Correa was a 'fake' one. The one who came and fought Bautista had no fighting style and hardly showed signs he was a legitimate boxer to the dismay of Boholano fans who came in droves just to witness their hometown idol who last saw action in their backyard seven years ago. (FREEMAN)