Melindo, Mexicans, ALA's big picture

CEBU CITY, Philippines – “Pinoy Pride VIII” revealed a lot about how fans have now accepted Milan Melindo as the next big thing in Philippine boxing, and also how veteran Mexican fighters have a mercenary attitude about fighting in the Philippines. The good news is that Melindo has become a more polished, fearless, dominant fighter. His stablemate, Jason Pagara, was not as lucky.

At a packed Grand Pacific Ballroom at the Waterfront in Lahug, fans got a peek at the present and future of Philippine boxing. Though the results were a mixed bag, feedback was generally positive at the end of a long night that featured nine bouts.

In the first of three fights featuring Filipinos versus Mexicans, super bantamweight Genesis “Azukal” Servania added to his unblemished slate by notching a convincing win over show-off Gerson Guerrero, who did not live up to his name. Servania was all business throughout the match, while Guerrero (34-8-0 after the bout) did just enough to look busy, often posturing and gesturing with his hands to try to distract Servania. Servania worked Guerrero’s body, which was made easier by the Mexican’s penchant for standing straight, countering and acting unhurt.

Servania found an effective weapon in his uppercut, often catching Guerrero with it on the ropes. Towards the middle of the eight-round tiff, Guerrero started keeping his distance, occasionally posturing to look as if he was putting up a fight. In the fifth round, Guerrero suffered a cut (actually two small ones) around his right eye, which he claimed came from a headbutt. Still, he was no match for Servania, who notched his 15th win in the same number of fights.

In the supporting main event light welterweight setto, Pagara was matched against a sturdy veteran in Rosbel Montoya (12-2-1 at the end of the bout). Pagara had pretty much been mowing down opposition with an aggressive body attack, carving out 27 victories (16 by KO) against a lone defeat going into the fight. Unfortunately, he could not overpower Montoya, who took his best, and dished out a mean counter-attack, led by a rapier left hook. In the middle of the third round, Pagara walked into a sledgehammer right hook, and was visibly stunned.

By the middle of the 10-round affair, it was clear Pagara’s tactics weren’t working, and he was at a loss. Montoya was big and durable, and wily enough to deflect Pagara’s flurries. By round six, Pagara’s right eye was swelling, and try though he did, he was getting nowhere. At the end of all his efforts, it was a lesson in flexibility and focus. Montoya was declared the winner via unanimous decision. Fortunately for Pagara, Montoya was one pound over the weight limit, so the WBO Asia Pacific Youth light welterweight title at stake was declared vacant.

On to the main event, it was a great sign that Melindo had become a big draw, filling the venue early into the card. There were even more foreign spectators than usual, all expecting a great fight. They were not disappointed with Melindo’s preparation.

His opponent, Francisco “Chiquita” Rosas, however, was another matter. Rosas missed the weight limit by a good seven pounds, and merely shrugged when asked about it. He obviously did not take the fight seriously, and it showed in the layer of blubber around his midsection. When Melindo started to work, Rosas realized the gravity of his error. Once called “Milenyo” after the terror typhoon that once ravaged the country, “El Metodico” used speed and superior defense to dissect the Mexican.

In the fourth round, Melindo’s left hook almost caused Rosas to topple forward. Chiquita used every possible delaying tactic to keep Melindo at a distance and buy himself some time. From the third round onward, Rosas would take his sweet time getting off his stool even after the bell for the round had already sounded, drawing repeated warnings from referee Bruce McTavish. In the fourth round, Melindo made the Mexican’s nose start bleeding profusely, leaving huge red stains on the visitor’s shiny yellow shorts,

By the sixth round, Rosas was visibly slowed by the punishment he was taking. Melindo constantly dug into his opponent’s body, slowing him down further. Still, Rosas agitated the crowd by acting unhurt, then spent extra time seated in his corner between rounds. Finally, at the start of the 11th round, even with McTavish practically dragging him into the middle of the ring, Rosas was trying to pretend he was okay, taking an extra moment to blow his bloody proboscis on a soaking red towel. McTavish wisely stopped the fight. Melindo got the WBO Inter-Continental Flyweight belt as his reward.

Obviously, the Mexicans did not take the fights seriously since they were not world title fights. But the fact that we are now able to bring seasoned Mexican fighters to the Philippines is a testament to the growth and professionalism of ALA Promotions. Next on the calendar is the WBO world light flyweight title clash between champion Ramon Garcia Hirales and former WBO world minimumweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes in Bacolod City on Oct. 8. Nietes, who was a dominant champion in the lower weight class, is aiming to make it a habit of knocking off present and former world champions.

It is also a sign of ALA Promotions’ growth. By 2012, the group is hoping to start holding title fights in Metro Manila, perhaps establish a training center there, as well. The long-term plan is to develop a platoon of world champions to bring more attention to boxing in the Philippines, and give them a decent livelihood. After all, Manny Pacquiao won’t be fighting forever. Filipinos will eventually be primed to take center stage and keep boxing alive and well outside the country, as well. And those boxers will most likely come from ALA’s stables.