INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) World Junior Flyweight champion Milan “El Metodico” Melindo.
Fighting in front of Filipino fans has brought out the best of reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Junior Flyweight champion Milan ‘El Metodico’ Melindo.
The 29-year-old Cagayan De Oro native Melindo holds an impressive 36-2-0 (win-loss-draw) record with 13 knockouts and has never lost any fight held in the country with his only defeats coming from Juan Estrada in Macau in 2013 and Javier Mendoza in Mexico in 2015.
He looks to continue that winning streak at home when he makes his first defense of his IBF World Junior Flyweight title against South African, Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler in the Pinoy Pride 42 fight card on Sept. 16 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The Melindo-Budler match is a 108-pound fight scheduled for 12 rounds.
Melindo scored a first-round technical knockout victory over Akira Yaegashi of Japan to win the title last May.
He will be up against a tested fighter in Budler, the current International Boxing Organization Light Flyweight champion and two-division IBO world champion who sports a 31-2-0 record with 10 knockout wins.
Despite the impressive credentials of his opponent, Melindo said he is confident heading into the fight. “I don’t feel pressured with my performance because I’ve been into a lot of fights. That’s what you call a veteran fighter. This is my dream also to play in big fights against a very tough opponent,” said Melindo.
Melindo has been watching fight replays of his opponent online and believes his strategy, tactics and his mental toughness will be his main weapons.
Budler, meanwhile, plans to mix things up come fight night as he looks to put on a great show not only in front of the Filipinos but also to his fans watching at home in South Africa.
ALA Promotions president/CEO Michael Aldeguer revealed that the fight will also be shown in television outlets in South Africa.
“Melindo is a very good fighter, probably the best opponent I will have faced. Going on the road doesn’t faze me. I’ll fight anywhere. I’m sure the Filipinos will watch my fights; they’re all over YouTube. But I’ll change up a few things and do what I’m best at,” shared Budler in a press statement.
Aldeguer added that they have yet to determine the roster for the undercards but they are looking at Jason Pagara, Jonas Sultan, Arthur Villanueva and KJ Cataraja as the possible boxers who will seeing action.