Milan “Method Man” Melindo will face the toughest test of his checkered boxing career when he battles Indonesian WBO Asia Pacific Light Flyweight champion Tommy Seran this Saturday at the Venetian Resort and Casino in Macau.
The Melindo-Seran fight will be in the undercard of the WBO flyweight and WBA superflyweight title defense of Filipino Brian Viloria against Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada.
“This fight will determine my career. If I win, everyone will recognize me and my achievements in boxing and will give me a bigger chance to fight for the world title,” Melindo told Cebu Daily News.
Melindo, the current WBO International flyweight champion from the famed ALA Boxing Gym, holds an unblemished record of 28 wins and 11 knockouts. And the top flyweight contender promised to give his all in front of the 15,000 spectators and the millions of viewers around the globe.
Seran holds an equally fearsome record of 24 wins, 1 loss with 14 knockouts.
ALA Boxing Gym trainer Editho Villamor, ALA Boxing Promotions vice president Dennis Canete and ALA Boxing gym rising star Jason Pagara will accompany Melindo in Macau. The team arrived yesterday morning.
Villamor expressed confidence of his ward’s chances saying Melindo had prepared early for this fight, in fact as early as one week after his majority decision win against Venezuelan Jean Piero Perez last December.
“He already finished 200 rounds of sparring against tough sparmates like IBF lightflyweight champion Johnriel Casimero, Rocky Fuentes, Arthur Villanueva and interim WBO minimum weight champion Merlito Sabillo,” disclosed Villammor. “So I can say that he really went through a tough training and I am very confident that he will do his best inside the ring.”
Canete for his part said that Milan’s stint in the Viloria-Estrada undercard will be a huge exposure for the unbeaten boxer since some of the biggest names in boxing will be in attendance.
“Aside from Bob Arum, top boxing promoters from Mexico and USA will be present to watch not just Viloria’s fight but also to witness Zou Shiming’s debut fight and I’d say that this will be a perfect time for Milan to step up and show all of them how a Milan Melindo fights inside the ring,” said Canete.
“I like his style because he is a wide puncher and he loves to throw overhand punches so I am going to use my counter-punching skills. I want to show everyone present on fight night what real boxing is,” added Melindo.
“If I win this and they offer me a shot for the world title, I’m going to tell them that I can fight anywhere.”
Melindo’s fight will be telecast before the Viloria-Estrada clash this Sunday over ABS-CBN channel 2 according to Canete.