MEXICO – Milan Melindo takes another crack at a world title when he challenges Mexican Javier Mendoza for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight championship on Saturday (Sunday, Manila time) at Campo Nuevo Ensenada in Baja, California, Mexico.
Both the Mexican champion and Filipino challenger made weight after tipping the scales at 107.2 lbs during Friday’s official weigh-in.
The 24-year-old Mendoza is making the first defense of the title he won by unanimous decision over Ramon Garcia Hirales last year. He successfully defended the crown four months ago with a second round technical knockout of Mauricio Fuentes.
But Melindo, 27, likes his chances against the reigning champion (23-2-1, 19KOs), after training at the famed Wild Card gym in Los Angeles for about two months.
“Mendoza is a warrior and is good, so it’ll be a good fight on Saturday. I feel very good and I have no problem,” said the Filipino, one of the stars of Cebu-based ALA Boxing gym.
Melindo (32-1, 12 KOs) lost to Juan Francisco Estrada by unanimous decision for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight title two years ago in his first shot at a world championship.
He is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision against Saul Juarez last November.
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