THE way Milan Melindo punishes himself during training, one could sense the unbeaten Filipino’s burning desire to score an emphatic victory when he tangles with Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada for the latter’s WBO/WBA flyweight titles at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on July 27.
Melindo, the 25-year-old, undefeated stalwart of Cebu’s famed ALA Gym, hopes to bring back to the Philippines the dual crowns Estrada snatched from another Filipino Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria last April 6 also at the Venetian.
To do so, he needs to first fine-tune his boxing arsenal with a killer training regimen.
With just 17 days left before the big day, Melindo has reportedly sparred iclose to a hundred quality sparring sessions.
And going by trainer Edito Villamor’s declarations, the country should be ready to welcome a new world boxing champion on July 27.
“Milan has been training real hard because he knows how tough Estrada is. We are leaving nothing to chance in training,” said Villamor.
Villamor also added that his ward is in perfect form both physically, mentally and emotionaly and should be more than ready to snatch Estrada’s marbles.
Melindo has a professional record of 29 wins with no loss with 12 knockouts while the 23 year-old, heavy-punching Estrada totes a 24-2 mark spiked with 18 knockouts.
The July 27 fight card at Asia’s gambling capital, will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN on Sunday, July 28 at 10:00 in the morning.
And Melindo will not be wanting for inspiration on fight night after it was learned that eight division world champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao will be at ringside to cheer for the Filipino warrior.
Pacquiao himself will also see action at the Venetian on November against Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios in a fight the Filipino icon cannot afford to lose after suffering successive setbacks in his last two fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley. /with philboxing.com