Milan “El Metodico” Melindo is inching closer towards realizing his dream of becoming a world champion after the World Boxing Organization (WBO) officially designated the unbeaten boxer as the mandatory challenger to WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria.
The WBO made this announcement during the final day of the 25th WBO Annual Convention held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida.
Melindo (28-0, 11 KO’s) is the division’s No. 1 ranked contender but had a harrowing majority decision win against Venezuelan Jean Piero Perez last September at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
Viloria (31W-3L, 18 KOs), however, will have a unification match with WBA flyweight champion Hernan “Tyson” Marquez (34W-2L, 25 KOs) of Mexico on Nov. 17 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
The “Hawaiian Punch” has been quoted on several occasions that he does not want to face another Filipino inside the ring. The WBO has instructed a 30-day negotiation period between ALA Promotions and the promoter of either Viloria or Marquez after their November bout.
There is also added pressure on Melindo because one of the top world title prospects of the ALA Gym, AJ “Bazooka” Banal, lost to Thailand’s Pungluang Sor Singyu in their battle for the vacant WBO Bantamweight world title last Saturday in Manila.
Meanwhile, WBO light flyweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (30W-1L-3D, 16 KOs), will have Moises Fuentes of Mexico as his mandatory challenger.
Fuentes (16W-1L, 8 KOs) holds the WBO minimumweight world title and will go one division higher to challenge Nietes. Fuentes won the title last year by beating countryman Raul Garcia by split decision. He has had two successful defenses against fellow Mexican Julio Cesar Felix and Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico.
There is also pressure on Nietes to keep his crown because he is the only world champion from the ALA Gym of Cebu. He is also one of the four current reigning world champions from the Philippines.
Nietes also faces the prospect of returning to Mexico where he defended his WBO minimumweight title three times before moving up in weight. The WBO has also ordered a 30 day negotiation period with 90 days to make the fight to ALA Promotions and Fuentes’ promoter, Zanfer Promotions of Mexico.
There are also plans for Nietes to have a tune-up fight next month in Dumaguete City.