'Bakbakan sa Sinulog' tonight Melindo guns for WBC Youth title; Banal battles Mexican toughie

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu’s mother of all festivals is yet on Sunday but expect fistic fireworks tonight as the four-nation “Bakbakan sa Sinulog!” fight card topbilled by ALA Stable standouts Milan “Melinyo” Melindo and AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal takes place at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino. Showtime promptly starts at 7 pm.

Melindo (19-0, 5KOs) guns for third regional belt in third weight division when he challenges WBC Intercontinental Youth flyweight champion Anthony “Baby Assassin” Villareal (9-2, 4KOs) of the United States in a 12-round rumble, while Banal (20-1, 16KOs) hopes to further cement his status as a legitimate world title contender once again as he takes on the highly-experienced Cecilio “Boga” Santos (24-11-3, 14KOs) of Mexico.

The undefeated Melindo (19-0, 5KOs) vies for his third regional title in third weight division as he challenges WBC Intercontinental Youth flyweight champion Anthony “Baby Assassin” Villareal (9-2, 4KOs) of the United States, while Banal (20-1, 16KOs) takes on the dangerous Mexican toughie Cecilio “Boga” Santos Galindo (24-11-3, 14KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight rumble.

“I assure the fans that they will witness a very exciting and entertaining fight. They will see a different Melindo. I improved a lot and I will show it off in the ring tomorrow night (today),” said Melindo. “As what I’ve said earlier, I’m going for a knockout and I think he (Villareal) will not go beyond five rounds,” added the Cagayan de Oro City warrior.

Both Melindo and Villareal scaled in at 109 pounds during yesterday’s official weigh-in at The Events Center of SM City-Cebu.

The 22-year-old Villareal added a little drama to the event as he ate a huge slice of pizza while on the weighing scale, indicating that he is very comfortable with his weight.

“I’m here to win, that’s it. Whether its going to be by knockout, it will just come,” said Villareal, who hails from Riverside Country in California.

Banal, who is on a three-fight winning roll since absorbing his first and only defeat so far at the hands of Panamian Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion in July last year at the Cebu Coliseum, exhibited the same confidence with Melindo saying there’s no way he is going to fall down against Santos.

“Our opponent is strong but Banal is much stronger and more talented,” said Banal’s strategist Edmund Villamor. “We have a secret weapon and we’re going to unleash it come the fight night.”

But even though he’s more superior on paper, Banal should not in any way take Santos lightly because the Mexican visitor is a grizzled veteran of 48 ring battles and has fought against high-grade opponents in the likes of WBO super flyweight titlist Fernando Montiel, former IBF jr bantamweight crown-holder Dmitri Kirilov and Colombian power-hitter Luis Melendez, the same guy who ended the career of Z “The Dream” Gorres.

In the supporting bouts of the explosive show bankrolled by ALA Promotions in partnership with SMART Communications, ABC TV 5 and the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), rising ALA stars James Bacon and Larry “Bonjovi” Canillas will tackle separate Thai foes.

Bacon (13-1-0,8 KOs) will trade leathers with Thittichon Singwancha (12-3, 2KOs), while Canillas (11-1, 11KOs) will go up against Pet Twin Gym (8-3-1, 6KOs).

The rest of the card pits Jojo Intor of Negros Occidental against Romnick Hoybia of Bohol and Jonel Gadapan of Cagayan de Oro versus Jayson Inso of Mandaue City.

Two bouts featuring national amateur boxers will spice up the pro action. Adonis Cabalquinto will take on Jimmy Vallares, while Karina Jane Recaido will slug it out with Irish Magno. Karina Jane is the daughter of former Asian Games gold medallist and two-time Olympian Elias Recaido.

Showing full support to their maiden venture in professional boxing, SMART bigwigs led by chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, ABAP president Rick Vargas, SMART chief wireless advisor Doy Vea and sports marketing head and special projects director Patrick “Pato” C. Gregorio will be coming over to grace the slambang spectacle. They will be joined by ABC TV 5 executives Atty. Rey Espinosa and Bobby Barreiro.

The entire card will be shown on ABC TV 5 on a slightly delayed basis. Tickets are priced at P1,500 for VIP first row, P1, 250 for VIP second row, P1,000 for VIP third row, P500 for ringside, P300 for ballroom and P250 for balcony. – THE FREEMAN