Boxers trade insults

Thursday, January 26, 2012

MEXICAN Juan Esquer winning by knockout this Saturday will only happen in his dreams, that is, according to his foe Milan Melindo.

The 23-year-old Melindo (25-0, 9 KOs) is confident that that he is the superior fighter and believes that the only way Esquer (27-9-2, 21 KOs) can defeat him this Saturday night in the main event of “Pinoy Pride 11 – Philippines vs. The World” is if he is technically and intellectually better than him.

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“If he is wiser than me, then he can beat me up but if he is not, then he can beat me up in his dreams,” said Melindo, who’ll be defending his World Boxing Organization Inter-Continental flyweight crown.

Despite Melindo’s taunts, Esquer is still confident on scoring a knockout and even found a way to express it in Cebuano.

“Tumbahon tika,” he said.

The war of words between Melindo and Esquer further escalated with Melindo boldly saying, “He will only knock me out if I will only use my left hand.”

Esquer quickly retaliated, “These words can’t affect me because I have fought world champions. This guy is just a newbie.”

Despite being called an upstart by the 25-year-old Mexican, Melindo insisted that his scheduled 12-round fight with the veteran Esquer should be a walk in the park.

“I trained hard not for this fight but for the world title because this fight is very easy.”

Exciting

The supporting main event is expected to be as intense as the Melindo vs. Esquer bout because knockout specialist Lorenzo Villanueva (21-0, 20 KOs) and Diego “Tyson” Ledesma (18-4-2, 12 KOs) promised a slam-bang affair.

“It would be an all-out war because I believe ‘Tyson’ won’t run. A knockout will come,” said the 26-year-old Midsayap, North Cotabato native.

“Just like him, I came to fight. There is no going backward but all forward,” said Ledesma.

In the undercard, Mhar Jhun Macahilig (13-1, 7 KOs) takes on experienced former world title challenger Kaichon Sor Vorapin (25-10, 9 KOs); Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation mini-flyweight titleholder Merlito Sabillo (16-0, 7 KOs) locks horns with sturdy Indonesian Sofyan Effendi (11-11-2, 9 KOs); and Joseph Von Minoza (12-2, 5 KOs) trades leathers with Korean champion Yoo Shin Kim (8-2, 6 KOs).