Milan gets big break
-A A +AThursday, February 7, 2013
THE gates to big-time boxing have finally opened for unbeaten prospect Milan Melindo, who will be featured in a top-billed boxing event promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.
Melindo has been booked to fight on April 6 in Macau, which will be headlined by World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight king Brian Viloria’s title defense against Juan Francisco Estrada.
“I cannot say it is 100 percent because contracts have not been signed yet, but in principle, yes, because I personally spoke with Bob Arum over the phone and we both agreed for Milan to be in the Macau card. We are now working with Top Rank in looking for an opponent,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer, Melindo’s promoter, told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Melindo, 28-0 with 11 knockouts, was supposed to be the mandatory challenger for Viloria. However, he gave way for a voluntary title defense by the 32-year-old Filipino-Hawaiian. But his next fight is surely a world title shot.
“There is no opponent yet as Top Rank is also looking for an opponent. If Milan wins his next fight, it should be for the world title as Milan was supposedly the mandatory challenger of Brian in 90 days but as a fellow Filipino, Milan allowed Brian to defend his title one more time,” said Aldeguer. “(Milan’s next fight) should be against the winner of Viloria-Estrada. Bob mentioned Milan before, when we met at the Shangrila Hotel in Manila last year but I was more open to the ALA Promotions partner deal with Top Rank then. Just a per fight deal since ALA Promotions is also promoting our own fighters. We are definitely open to a co-promotion deal with Top Rank in the future since we are both in the same TV network – ABS-CBN. Viloria is now also with ABS-CBN so it’s easier to make the fight in case it happens.”
Viloria unified both WBO and WBA crowns after beating Hernan “Tyson” Marquez via 10th round technical knockout in November.
Also seeing action in the Macau card is Chinese amateur standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 07, 2013.
Sports
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
