Melindo steps up training vs Mexican

CEBU CITY ,Philippines  – Milan Melindo enters the final phase of his buildup for his much-awaited fight against Mexican Juan Esquer on Jan. 28 in the Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs The World at Cebu City Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

The unbeaten Melindo remains focused on the task at hand, stressing the need to train hard for the 12-round bout.

“I can’t afford to be complacent so I need to train hard,” said the 23-year-old native of Cagayan de Oro in Filipino. “I want to be a world champion so I must sacrifice.”

Melindo will be bringing with him an unbeaten record of 25-0 (with 9 KOs) when he meets his 25-year-old opponent from Sonora, Mexico.

Esquer has a 27-9 (win-loss) record, including 21 knockouts, and once challenged for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-flyweight title against the great Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico, losing a unanimous 12-round decision.               

“He hits hard so I must not be over confident,” said Melindo, the reigning WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion.

Meanwhile, Esquer and Diego Ledesma of the World Team, meanwhile, arrived last night in time for today’s 12:30 p.m. press conference put up by ALA Promotions at the Shakey’s UN Ave. in Manila.

The Mexicans will leave for Cebu City tomorrow and will have a presscon at the Moon Café in I.T. Park, Lahug, Cebu City. They will also be featured for the first time in the Pinoy Pride XI Public Workout at the SM City Entertainment Center at 5 p.m.

As part of the promotional build up for the boxing program presented by Ala Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, Melindo and members of Team Philippines seeing action in the undercard, conducted a public workout at the SM City Cebu here late Friday.

Melindo was accompanied by Ala boxing gym stablemates Lorenzo Villanueva, Joseph Von Minoza, reigning Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) champion Merlito Sabilo, and Mhar Jhun Makahilig.

Villanueva and Co. are going up against high-caliber opponents from Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Korea in the boxing card also supported by SM City Cebu, Pacific Mall Mandaue, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel, Kia Motors Cebu, Moon Café, Harold’s Hotel, Pagcor, Gaisano Tabunok, Gaisano Metro Colon and EGI Resort.

Coming off a 10th-round stoppage of Francisco Rojas during the eighth edition of Pinoy Pride last September, Melindo hopes to make a statement in his showdown with Esquer in his bid to vie for a world title this year.