Tamara next for Melindo?

MANILA, Philippines - Fresh from a smashing second round knockout win over Korean flyweight champion Jin Man Jeon, unbeaten sensation Milan Melindo may take on former IBF lightflyweight champion Carlos Tamara of Colombia in his next assignment before the year ends.

ALA Promotions owner Tony Aldeguer said the other day a win over Tamara will prove Melindo is ready for a world title shot.

Last Saturday, Melindo took out Jin with a devastating three-punch combination that brought down the Korean for the full count at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City. The victory raised Melindo’s record to 22-0-1, with seven KOs.

Aldeguer said when Tamara held the IBF crown, he asked for a $40,000 purse to defend the throne against Melindo in Manila or Cebu.

“We were ready to promote the fight,” said Aldeguer. “Tamara made a name for himself by stopping Brian Viloria to win the IBF title at the Cuneta Astrodome last January. After initially coming to terms, Tamara decided to fight a less dangerous challenger Luis Lazarte in Argentina for $20,000. He ended up losing by a split decision. Now, Tamara has moved up to flyweight like Milan. He wants Milan’s rating so we’ll try to make the fight happen before the year ends.”

Melindo, 22, is ranked No. 7 by the IBF, No. 11 by the WBC and No. 12 by the WBA but he is expected to improve his rating after halting Jin.

Aldeguer called Melindo “the star of the night,” outshining Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, Jimrex Jaca and Florante Condes who also won their outings on the same Waterfront card.

Melindo, known as a technician, has shown remarkable progress in the power department as he moved up from minimumweight to lightflyweight to flyweight. He has won his last two bouts by knockout.

Tamara, 27, has a 21-5 record, with 15 KOs. Before losing to Lazarte last May, he had won four in a row.

Aldeguer said Bautista looked stiff and a bit rusty in halting Mexico’s Alejandro Barrera at 1:14 of the fourth round last Saturday. Barrera was ruled unfit to continue due to a nasty cut over his right eye by referee Tony Pesons on ringside physician Dr. Jose Unabia’s advice.

“The good thing about Boom Boom was his left hand didn’t hurt during or after the fight,” said Aldeguer. “He had wrist surgery on the hand last year, came back after nine months but complained of pain in his last two comeback fights which he still managed to win by knockout. I think Boom Boom was too anxious in trying to knock out Barrera. One thing about Boom Boom, he’s a crowd pleaser. He will always give the fans their money’s worth. No matter whom his opponent is, Boom Boom will charge in to hit or get hit. That’s just the way he is and that’s why he’s such a big crowd drawer.”

Aldeguer said the win over Barrera sealed Bautista’s appointment with Dominican Republic veteran Hector Julio Avila in Dubai on Oct. 29. Avila, 38, has compiled a 47-4 record, with 42 KOs, since turning pro in 1994. Bautista, 24, is not as experienced with a 29-2-1 record, including 22 KOs.

As for Jaca and Condes, Aldeguer said it’s up to the fighters how far they can go in their careers. Both are on the comeback trail.

“Our approach is now to promote fighters, not to manage them,” said Aldeguer. “You will notice that those who train in our gym are no longer wearing the trademark black colors of our stable. We want the fighters to enter the ring as individual personalities. We’re no longer using ALA Boxing as our trade name but ALA Promotions and we’ve opened our doors to fighters who’re not with our stable like Jaca and Condes.”

Aldeguer said Jaca, who demolished Mexico’s Pipino Cuevas Jr. in one round last Saturday, manages himself. “We don’t approach fighters to promote, they approach us – that’s our policy,” he added. “If there’s an opportunity for Jimrex to fight abroad, we’ll take it but he won’t be a prime attraction yet, only an opponent. Regarding Condes, he’ll have to train where we can monitor him if he wants to fight in our promotions again.”