Melindo gets new opponent

CEBU, Philippines – ALA Boxing Gym mainstay Milan "El Metodico" Melindo will take on a new opponent,  the undefeated Victor Emmanuel Olivo of Mexico, in the much-awaited "Pinoy Pride 34: Back with a Vengeance" fightcard this Saturday night at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

Melindo was initially set to face Olivo's compatriot Carlos “Divino” Fontes for the WBO International light flyweight belt, but the Mexican could not fight after being diagnosed with dengue fever.

With this sudden turn of events, Melindo's duel with Olivo has been downgraded to a 10-round, non-title bout on the undercard of the slambang show that will now be headlined by 'King' Arthur Villanueva (27-1, 14KOs), who will shoot for the WBC International super flyweight crown against Victor 'Spock' Mendez (19-2-2, 15KOs).

Still, it would be an interesting match-up as Melindo (32-2, 12KOs) will tackle Olivo, a 19-year-old prospect with an immaculate 9-0 record spiked with 4KOs.

Both Melindo and Villanueva are itching to bounce back from controversial defeats in their previous world title shots.

The 27-year-old Melindo lost by a highly questionable sixth round technical decision to Javier Mendoza in their IBF light flyweight championship match last May 30 at Campo Nuevo Ensenada in Baja California, Mexico.

Villanueva met the same fate. He appeared to be beating McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico only to lose by a contentious 10th round technical decision in their IBF super flyweight title bout last July 18 at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas.

In the other feature of action-packed card bankrolled by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, Kevin Jake 'KJ' Cataraja, AJ 'Bazooka' Banal and Rocky 'The Road Warrior' Fuentes gird up for tough assignments against equally-strong foreign rivals.

Cataraja and Fuentes will slug it out with Indonesian brawlers Faris Nenggo and Afrizal Tamboresi, respectively, while Banal will slug it out with Tanzanian brawler Emilio 'Prince Kiliminajaro' Norfat.

Cataraja, a former amateur standout, will surely be tested in his only second pro bout against Nenggo, a grizzled veteran of 21 fights with a 10-8-3 win-loss-draw record.

The rest of the bouts pit Melvin 'Gringo' Jerusalem versus Crison 'D' Cowbow" Omayao, both of Bukidnon; Criz Ganoza of Matalom Leyte versus Fabio Marfa of Mandaue City; and Christian Bacolod of Cebu versus Allan Garing of Bukidnon. (FREEMAN)