Melindo faces one last obstacle

CEBU, Philippines - The undefeated ALA Boxing Gym star Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo hopes to hurdle one final obstacle before his dream world title shot as he defends his WBO International flyweight title against Venezuelan punching dynamo Jean Piero Perez in the main event of the ‘Pinoy Pride XVI:Venezuelan Invasion’ on September 22 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Melindo, ranked No.1 by the WBO in the 112-pound division, is unscathed in 27 fights spiked with 11KOs, while Perez parades a 19-4 record dotted with 14KOs.

“Milan will surely fight for the world title next year,” said ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer in a press conference yesterday at the Cebu Grand Hotel. “We are targeting either against (Brian) Viloria or (Hernan) Marquez, who will figure in unification bout also next month.”

Melindo, who awed boxing fans with his splendid first round knockout of former world champion Jesus Geles during his previous bout on June 2 at the Resorts World Hotel in Manila, is supposed to be mandated to challenge reigning WBO titlist Brian Viloria, but the latter opted for a unification match with WBA crown-holder Hernan "Tyson" Marquez on September 29 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

“No question Milan is ready for a world title fight, but we will still have to wait for the result of the Viloria-Marquez showdown,” said Aldeguer.

Before thinking of a marquee match-up with either Marquez or Viloria, Melindo should pass first a tough test against Perez.

The former WBA interim champion Perez is coming from a sensational eight round stoppage of Colombian Michael Arango last April 26 in Panama. The interestingly thing is that 12 of the 14 foes he send into the dreamland did not go past the fourth round.

"It's going to be a very exciting match-up. Perez loves to attack and fights toe-to-toe with his opponents, while Melindo is a very good counter-puncher," said ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor.

In the supporting main event, another highly-ranked flyweight contender from the ALA Stable in Rocky ‘Road Warrior’ Fuentes (33-6, 22KOs) will slug it out with the Japan-based Korean fighter Myung-Ho Lee (15-1,5KOs).

This will be Fuentes' fifth defense of his OPBF belt he won with a majority decision win over Japanese boxer Masafumi Okubo in March last year. – THE FREEMAN