MILAN Melindo is hoping to pull off an upset again in Japan when he aims for the WBC world light flyweight title of hometown boxer Ken Shiro on Sunday night at The Arena in Kanagawa.
Just like in his WBA light flyweight championship win against Akira Yaegashi 17 months ago, Melindo, a Cagayan de Oro City native, is again the underdog in this world title clash in the Land of the Rising Sun.
“Underdog tayo uli kasi magaling na tactical fighter si Ken Shiro. Kaya niyang lumaro sa loob at labas,” said Melindo. “Hindi ko pa alam kung papaano siya ima-manage sa loob ng ring pero gagawin ko ang best ko para manalo.”
Melindo added that he has already recovered from a busy 2017 that saw him winning the belt against Yaegashi, defending it against South African Hekkie Budler before losing it to Japanese Ryoichi Taguchi on New Year’s Eve.
“Brutal sport ang boxing so mahalaga talaga sa akin na naka-recover ako bago ang laban na ito,” Melindo said. “Habang nagpapahinga din ako, may mga bagay akong naalala tulad ng dapat laging maging hungry kahit na world champion ka na.”
Melindo’s promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions, for his part, said he believes his prized boxer is motivated enough to clinch his second world championship.
“The thing with Milan, he has always been confident. Even after the Taguchi fight, he has never doubted himself,” said Aldeguer. “Sometimes it works for him but at times it could also make him overconfident.”
“When this offer to fight Ken Shiro came, he never hesitated and, in fact, told me this is the fight he has been wishing for,” he added. “This is make-or-break for him. His coach (Edito Villamor) has pointed out to Melindo his mistakes during his last fight.”
The 30-year-old Melindo will enter the ring with a 37-3-0 win-loss-draw record including 13 stoppage wins, while the 26-year-old Shiro has an unblemished 13-0-0 slate.
NOPSSCEA TABLE TENNIS
University of St. La Salle, St. Scholastica’s Academy and VMA Global College dominated the Negros Occidental School Sports, Cultural and Educational Association (Nopsscea) Season 38 Table Tennis held recently at the VMA Global College gym.
The USLS paddlers ruled the elementary boys and secondary girls team events while settling for runner-up finishes in the singles matches.
The SSA, meanwhile, topped the elementary girls as the House of Praise settled for first runner-up, while the VMA ruled the secondary boys followed by the USLS and Bacolod Tay Tung High School.
For the singles event, the USLS’ Joaquin Bragancia and Anton Andre Bayona finished in 1-2 positions in elementary boys as RV Reign Valderama settled for second runner-up.
The SSA’s Dianah Aeris Yapiso and Nika Therese Daguia dominated elementary girls as champion and first runner-up, respectively, while Jirah Faith Gellecanao of the House of Praise finished second runner-up.
In the secondary boys, the VMA’s Areanel Theoffer Ariola and Meljohn Valdez were champion and first runner-up, respectively, while the USLS’ Micah Tanate and Ayumi Grace Iida ruled secondary girls as champion and first runner-up, respectively./PN
