Aldeguer scolds sluggish Melindo

While ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer hailed Milan Melindo’s win over durable Anthony Villareal as a display of guts, brains and power, he admitted scolding the unbeaten Cagayan de Oro fighter for burning himself out in training by sparring over 200 rounds to prepare for the WBC Youth Intercontinental flyweight title bout.

Melindo, 21, floored Villareal, 22, with a wicked right hook to the jaw in the first round but failed to dispose of the brash American of Mexican descent and settled for a win on points to wrest the WBC Youth Intercontinental diadem in their 10-round bout at the Grand Pacific Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City last Thursday.

Villareal proved to be an elusive target after he tasted Melindo’s power in the early going. Melindo had difficulty locating Villareal’s head which he moved deftly from side to side and couldn’t get his combinations to flow because the American’s weaving tactics threw him off track. Villareal didn’t show much foot movement but his ability to duck, dodge and bend his body sideways and backwards made it hard for Melindo to connect consistently.

Worse, Melindo got sluggish as the fight wore on, clearly the result of a burn-out.

“Milan looked good in the first three rounds then I noticed the change in his pace,” said Aldeguer whose son Michael is Melindo’s registered manager. “He was burned out and I scolded him for that. He lost his rhythm. He could’ve done better against Villareal. It turned out to be a tough fight and it was good for the fans.”

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Aldeguer described Villareal as an unconventional fighter.

“Today, you see the better fighters move away from the traditional style,” said Aldeguer. “Villareal had his hands down a lot. A good jabber likes to do that because when he throws a jab, he does it with a snap and doesn’t push it. With our fighters, we’ve learned not to restrict them from being themselves. We don’t want to contain them.   Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones and Manny Pacquiao developed their own style. It’s the same with Villareal.”

Aldeguer likened the situation to how basketball stars evolve in the NBA.

“You don’t want to constrain an athlete from playing up to his potential,” he added. “Look at the NBA stars today, they’re breaking out like there’s no limit to what they can do, the way they dunk, the way they score. With the national boxing team, I don’t think it’s right to teach them to fight the same style. You want them to develop naturally. You also learn from experience.”

Villareal flew all the way from California to stake his WBC Youth Intercontinental crown and was accompanied by a party of six. He obviously didn’t come to lose.

The day before the fight, Villareal threatened to withdraw when he found out the three judges assigned were Filipinos. He demanded judges from neutral countries. But Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain, acting as WBC supervisor, assured Villareal and his manager Les Cohen of fair treatment.

Villareal was a show-stopper at the weigh-in, stepping on the scales holding a slice of pepperoni pizza with his right hand.   He came in three inside the 112-pound limit. Melindo tipped in at 109 1/2.

“We don’t foresee Milan fighting as a flyweight again,” said Aldeguer. “We went for the flyweight championship because we wanted Milan to challenge for a title and Villareal was the only champion available. Milan will concentrate on fighting as a minimumweight (105 pounds) or a lightflyweight (108).”

At the moment, Melindo is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, No. 3 by the IBF and WBA and No. 5 by the WBC as a minimumweight. His record is 20-0, with five KOs.

Aldeguer said he’s not rushing a title fight for Melindo.

“We’re not pursuing it,” he said. “If it’s placed on his feet, maybe we’ll consider. But we like how he’s maturing. He’s gaining confidence. He doesn’t have the power of a Pacquiao yet but it’s developing.  If he can knock down a natural flyweight in Villareal, imagine his power against a lighter opponent. He proved himself against Villareal who was taller and bigger. He was in control most of the way.”

Aldeguer said the Villareal travelling party will remain in Cebu until Friday.

“Villareal is really a nice guy and his manager Les is impressed with Cebu,” said Aldeguer. “They love Cebu. Les has been asking about investment possibilities. Villareal’s trainer Alberto Franco didn’t complain about the decision. Two of their companions who couldn’t book flights to catch the fight arrived later.”