International Boxing Federation light flyweight champion Javier ?Cobra? Mendoza who is scheduled to face mandatory challenger Milan ?El Methodico? Melindo in a fight being planned for March 28 in Manila, finished Colombia?s Mauricio Fuentes in two rounds as Fuentes? cornerman entered the ring to stop their fighter from receiving further punishment after he was dropped twice in what was an obvious mismatch.
Originally touted as a title fight, the IBF quite correctly decided not to sanction a title bout forcing Zanfer Promotions of Fernando Beltran to turn the contest into a ten round non-title bout at a catch-weight of 110 pounds which hardly made a difference as Mendoza ripped into Fuentes in the second round and dropped him twice before his trainer called a halt as Mendoza was connecting with another big flurry in the fight held at the Municiopal Auditorium in Tijuana, Mexico.
The Manila Standard/Viva Sports had earlier warned of a mismatch based on how easily former light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero who lost his IBF title on the scales and had to wear ten ounce gloves, blasted Fuentes to win by a 1st round knockout at the Makati Coliseum last year.
Casimero who moved up to flyweight earned a crack at the title held by Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand after stunning fancied Armando Santos with a rousing 2nd round knockout. However, promoter Sammy Gello-ani told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that they had agreed to step aside to allow popular, undefeated Zou Shiming of China to face Ruenroeng in a voluntary title defense in Macau on March 7 with the winner committed to defend against Casimero later tis year.
Juan Carlos of Zanfer Promotions had earlier promised ALA Promotions vice president Dennis Canete to confirm details of Mendoza?s mandatory defense against the No.1 ranked Melindo next week.
The 23 year old Mendoza boasts of an impressive record of 22-2 -1 with 18 knockouts and won the title with a dominating performance against former champion Ramon Garcia Hirales in September 2014.
Hirales lost his title to Filipino Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes who on January 1 surpassed the 34 year old record of the late, great Hall-of-Fame junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde who held the crown for 7 years and 3 months.
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