WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion Milan “Metodico” Melindo (29-0,12KOs) described WBO and WBA World Lightflyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada (24-2, 18KOs) of Mexico as an average boxer whose style perfectly fits his.
The two tangle on July 27 at The Venetian in Macau, China got the Mexican’s dual titles.
The unbeaten Melindo, of the ALA Boxing Gym said he is confident of beating Estrada who snatched the two world titles of Filipino Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria last April in the very first major boxing event staged in Asia’s gambling capital.
“I am expecting the same fight like what I encountered before. The big difference is that there are two world titles at stake” Melindo told Cebu Daily News Monday during a lull in his training at the ALA Boxing Gym in Talamban.
“Yes, he is a champion but for me, he is just an ordinary boxer who can punch hard.”
Melindo said Estrada’s pressure fighting style fits his counter-punching prowess. “I love my opponents who pressure me because no matter how many punches they throw at me, I know I can stop them with one punch,” said Melindo who vowed Estrada is in for a big surprise on fight night.
Melindo also revealed that he is nearing tip-top shape with just a month left in his rigid three-month training under the watchful eyes of veteran trainer Edito Villamor.
“Right now I’m focussing on improving my power, speed and especially my footwork and agility,” said Melindo.
He mentioned that his spar mates, OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes (35-6-2, 20KOs) and undefeated super flyweight prospect Melvin Gumban (14-0, 6KOs) were a big help in his pursuit to become a world champion.
He claimes to have finished more than 50 rounds of sparring.
SERVANIA EXCITED ABOUT FIRST FIGHT ABROAD
Meanwhile, undefeated WBO Asia Pacific Superbantamweight champion Genesis “Azukal” Servania (21-0, 8KOs), is excited for his first fight abroad against Japanese Konosuke Tomiyama (23-5-1, 8KOs) in the undercard of the Melindo-Estrada’s showdown.
“We are training very hard for this fight because we all know that Japanese boxers are very tough,” said Servania.
“I’ve seen his fight tapes, he is a good fighter but he lacks defense, that’s why I have to be very aggressive” he added. “This is a very big opportunity that ALA Promotions have given me and I am very thankful for that.”
Tomiyama is a former OPBF super flyweight champion.
Both Servania and Melindo are flying to Manila to process their travel documents for their planned training in the US.