Ken Shiro (left) and Milan Melindo (right) pose after passing the official weigh-in yesterday for their WBC world light flyweight showdown today in Yokohama, Japan.
/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Melindo faces unbeaten Japanese world champion today
Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) world light flyweight champion Milan “El Metodico” Melindo and his opponent, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) world light flyweight king, Ken Shiro of Japan, showcased discipline as both ring warriors passed the mandatory weigh-in for their world title showdown today in Yokohama, Japan.
The 30-year-old Melindo, one of the prized boxers of Cebu-based ALA Boxing Gym, weighed in at 107 pounds, a bit lighter of the 108 lbs contracted weight while Shiro also tipped the scales at 107 lbs.
Shiro will be defending his WBC world light flyweight title for the third time.
He previously defended it against two Mexicans in Ganigan Lopez and Gilberto Pedroza, winning both via resounding knockouts.
Melindo, for his part, will be fighting for a world title for the fifth time in his roller coaster career.
He holds a record of 37 wins, three losses, zero draws and 13 knockouts.
He will be fighting a much younger Shiro, who is 26 years old, and is unbeaten with a record of 13 wins, seven knockouts, and no draw.
Melindo, a native of Cagayan de Oro City, stunned the boxing world last year when he scored a first-round knockout to upset and dethrone the then IBF world light flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi in Tokyo, Japan.
In the same year, Melindo defended the title against two-division world champion Hekkie Budler of South Africa wherein he walked away with a 12-round split decision victory.
However, before 2017 ended, he lost the world title to another Japanese, Ryoichi Taguchi, via unanimous decision during the New Year’s Eve.