Melindo wrests title; Banal also stops foe

CEBU CITY , Philippines  – Milan Melindo and AJ Banal gave fight fans that packed the Waterfront Hotel here plenty of reasons to cheer about Thursday evening following their explosive victories over their foreign counterparts.

Melindo knocked down former amateur standout Anthony Villareal of the United States in the opening round to cushion a uanimous 10-round victory and become the new WBO Youth Inter-Continental flyweight champion.

The huge crowd rose to their feet after Melindo caught Villareal with a big right to the jaw and put the American down on the floor. The native of Cagayan de Oro tried but failed to finish off his opponent in the final minute of the opening round.

Villareal, who tipped the scales last Wednesday with a big slice of pizza in his hand, will have to take things more seriously from now on. A late rally was not enough to turn the tide around against Melindo, who stayed undefeated in 20 fights.

“But he was strong in the ring. I kept landing my punches and he kept on coming in,” said Melindo in Filipino as the crowd cheered him on after witnessing a great night of boxing courtesy of Smart/PLDT, ALA Promotions and ABC 5.

“I will continue to work hard,” he added.

Villareal, who landed some very good shots starting on the fifth round, just couldn’t pull off the win even if Melindo started to show signs of slowing down. He said he had the wrong strategy.

“I started too slow and wasn’t really hurt when I went down. I had recovered from that. I should have fought each round the way I fought the final round,” Villareal said inside his dressing room.

Earlier, Banal added spice to the ongoing Sinulog Festival when he knocked out Mexico’s Cecilio Santos in the fourth round of their bantamweight contest and primed himself up to a possible crack at the world title.

“I hope I get it this year,” said Banal, the 21-year-old crowd-favorite from Cebu. His sensational knockout brought smiles on the faces of his benefactors, Tony and Michael Aldeguer.

It was a highly-successful card that Smart/PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, who watched the fight from Manila, is considering bigger boxing promotions, according to his pointman in sports, Pato Gregorio.

“We just found great partners with ABC 5’s Bobby Barrero and chairman Eric Buhain of the Games and Amusements Board, and another great way to help sports,” said Gregorio, who’s looking at a fight that would Venezuelan knockout artish Edwin Valero against any Filipino willing to stand on his way.

In the supporting bouts, amateurs Irish Magno and Adonis Cabalquinto defeated Karina Jane Recaido and Jimmy Vallares, respectively, while Larry “Bon Jovi” Canillas and James Bacon also knocked out their Thai rivals.        – Abac Cordero