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[av_heading heading=’Melindo fights Japanese on New Year’s Eve ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, December 10, 2017
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MANILA – Milan Melindo won’t have a holiday break as he was set to defend his IBF light flyweight belt against WBA light flyweight titlist Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan on Dec. 31 at the Ota City Gymnasium in Japan.
This will be the second time that the Cagayan de Oro native is staking the 108-pound title he won at the expense of Japanese fighter Akira Yaegashi in May, also in Japan.
Melindo said he does not mind not celebrating Christmas with his family – the unification bout for the light flyweight world championship is a dream come true, he said.
“I have waited for this, and finally it’s here,” Melindo said in an online interview. “I am confident as always. I love fighting in Japan, and I am excited to face their champion. I believe my training will be enough for this one.”
ALA Boxing Promotions’ Michael Aldeguer said the Melindo-Taguchi bout will mean a lot for Philippine boxing, especially because Japanese fighters have been an imposing figure in the lighter weight class.
“This is something big not only for ALA Promotions but for Philippine boxing,” Aldeguer said. “The Japanese boxers are dominating the boxing scene in the small weight divisions right now, and it is a great challenge for Milan to put them on notice.”
Melindo, 29, will be parading an impressive 37-2-0 win-loss-draw ring record, including 13 stoppage wins. He has also won his last five matches since 2015.
Taguchi, on the other hand, has a 26-2-2 win-loss-draw slate, with 12 knockout wins. This will be the third time that the 31-year-old is facing a Filipino after previously defeating Ryan Bito and Florante Condes./PN
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