ALA Gym rising star and reigning WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight champion Milan ?Milenyo? Milendo is set to return to action on March 7 against Sofyan Effendi of Indonesia for his second title defense at the Mandaue City Sports Complex in Mandaue City.
Milendo (14-0-0, KO4) ascended the vacant crown on Oct 6, 2007 when he defeated by technical KO Indonesian Nuapayak Sakkririn in the fourth round. Born in Barangay Puerto in Cagayan de Oro City, this amiable 19-yr-old, packed with both hammer fists and enduring sturdiness, rose to professional boxing through a full four-round slug out against fellow debutant Meljun Grumo on Sep 17, 2005. He defeated Grumo unanimously.
For more than two years, he silently boxed his way through his division, quietly building up an otherwise stunning record never been defeated in 14 fights. A seamless performance he shared with another ALA Gym star AJ ?Bazooka? Banal. He joked around with fellow boxers and ALA employees, and many times seen to jog along Gov. MJ Cuenco Avenue in the morning. However for his growing number of fans and hometown friends, the punching power that he possess reminds them of the catastrophe brought by the disastrous typhoon Milenyo in 2006, which stuck to him like a tight spandex forming him a second skin.
Milendo used to train under the Cagayan de Oro?s boxing program under Barangay 6 chair Mario Eronico. He donned on two Palarong Pambansa Gold medals and has dominated more experienced warriors such as Fabio Marfa, Ricardo Albia, Alex Aroy, and lately Jack Amisa.
His ring charisma came from a very perceptible simplicity and humility that tends to make people at ease talking to him. He trains hard and laughs hard. But he is one warrior with well developed emotional ropes, which can be struck with his early memories of the Batang Pinoy in Laguna. In that faraway Barangay Sta. Cruz, he was embraced by virtual strangers, drawn to his very lovable presence.
Youngest of 10 siblings, Milendo started boxing at the age of 6 when his father bought him a pair of gloves. He had initially planned to pursue a college degree after his fling with boxing comes through. But the call of the sports won?t let him go, not just yet, as he continued to labor and build himself into a ring machine that can be devastating even to touted veterans.
This year?s opening salvo for boxing championship in the city of Mandaue is brought to you by ALA Promotions, an international promotional outfit headed by its president Michael Aldeguer.
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article.