Sakkreerin vows to shatter Milan’s road to redemption

CEBU, Philippines - Thai brawler Fahlan Sakkreerin, Jr. (31-4, 16KOs) is dead serious in spoiling Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo’s (34-2, 12KOs)  dream of getting another world title shot as they face each other for the interim IBF light flyweight title in the main event of the ‘Pinoy Pride 39:Road to Redemption’ fightcard this Saturday night at the Cebu Coliseum.

The 23-year-old Sakkreerin, who captured the IBF Pan Pacific belt with a fourth round stoppage of Indonesian Stevanus Nana Bau during his previous match last June 6 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, said he is in top form and that he intends to make the ALA Boxing Gym mainstay his next victim to further advance his own quest for a world crown.

“We had the best training camp for this fight,” said Sakkreerin’s British trainer Rian Peter Munton in a press conference yesterday at the St. Mark’s Hotel.“He (Sakkreerin) knows that this is the biggest fight of his career and he will be facing a good boxer in Milan. But this is a fight that we can win.”

Munton is aware of Melindo's advantage in terms of experience having fought for a world championship twice, but he believes that his ward’s youth will be a big factor come the fight night.

“Milan’s experience has a good and a bad side. He already fought world champions but Sakkreerin is the fresher boxer,” said Munton, who declared that Sakkreerin is at the prime of his career. Also, Sakkreerin has a higher knockout percentage at 44 percent as compared to Melindo's only 33 percent rate.

"Both are technical boxers but I am sure that we can see a knockout in this one," added Munton.

The Thai visitor himself is brimming with confidence a day after setting foot on his enemy's territory.

“I am more of a long distance fighter but I can also fight inside. I will not say it but me and my trainer already know Milan’s weakness,” said Sakkreerin, who once vied for the IBF minimumweight belt in a losing effort by technical decision against Japanese Katsunari Takayama on June 4, 2015.

The Thai warrior also downplays Melindo's so-called homecourt advantage. “I think the pressure is on him because many of his fans will be watching. I am used to fighting outside my country, so this would not matter.”

In the equally-exciting supporting main event of the slambang show co-presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, ‘Prince’ Albert Pagara (26-1, 18KOs) will try to regain lost pride and glory when he battles Raymond Commey of Ghana (16-3, 9KOs) in a non-title duel scheduled for 10 rounds.

Also to watch out for is Albert’s older brother and WBO No.1 light welterweight Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara, who will slug it out with Nicaraguan Jose Alfaro (28-10, 24KOs). (FREEMAN)