Melindo in career defining fight

CEBU, Philippines - Undefeated ALA Boxing Gym star Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo (29-0, 12KOs) faces a career-defining fight as he challenges Mexican double world champion Juan Francisco Estrada (24-2, 18KOs) for the WBO and WBA flyweight titles tonight at the Cotai Arena of The Venetian Hotel and Resort in Macau, China.

Melindo is aware that he's in for the biggest bout of his life and that he will give it all to make an impression on the international stage.

“In my last fight here in Venetian Macao last April, in the same conference, I was standing (in the crowd) watching the people standing (on the stage) and speaking,” said Melindo in a report by Jake Donovan of boxingscene.com. “I stood there thinking, someday I will be here on this stage to stand and speak.”

“Now I'm here to let everyone know that I am Milan Melindo,” added the stylish Mindanao brawler from of Cagayan de Oro City.

Both Melindo and Estrada came up with stellar performances in the first ever pro boxing show in Macau last April 6.

Melindo dished out a masterful fourth round knockout of Indonesian Tommy Seran, while Estrada dethroned Fil-Am Brian Viloria via a well-deserved split decision to emerge as the WBO and WBA flyweight king.

Before leaving for the Chinese territory last week, Melindo has indicated he's going for an early stoopage of Estrada although he's prepared and ready to battle it out for the full 12 rounds.

“This is the moment Milan had been waiting for. It's a make of break fight for him, but I'm confident he will win this one,” said ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor.

Aside from Melindo, another unbeaten ALA mainstay Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania (21-0, 8KOs) will also show his punching stuff in Macau. Servania will make his debut on foreign shores against Japanese Konosuke Tomiyama (23-5, 8KOs) in a non-title clash scheduled for 10 rounds. (FREEMAN)