WBO Asia Pacific Minimum weight champion Milan Melindo, proved his class and lived up to his status as probably the best boxer in the star-studded ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer with a smashing 3rd round TKO victory over dangerous African contender Juma Fundi of Tanzania to retain his WBO Asia Pacific crown at the Atrium of Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro, Thursday night.
Melindo weakened Fundi with vicious body shots before he doubled up with a left hook and a second shot to the side of the head that dropped the African who was clearly groggy and in no shape to continue forcing the referee to stop the bout at 0:32 seconds of the third round.
With the handsome victory Melindo kept his unbeaten record intact, moving up to 17-0 with 5 knockouts while it was only the second loss of Fundi whose first defeat was a points decision to WBO Oriental flyweight champion Richie Mepranum. The African dropped to 8-2.
Both Melindo and Fundi were coming off big wins in their last outings. Melindo defeated world-rated Carlos Melo of Panama in their battle for the WBA Intercontinental light flyweight title last July while Fundi scored a 1st round knockout win over Sadat Miyeyusho last August.
Young Michael Aldeguer who has assumed the mantle of his father at the ALA Gym said he is hoping that Melindo who is rated No. 2 in the world by the WBO could launch his career internationally with a possible appearance in a fight card being planned in Dubai in March next year.
Aldeguer said he would look for "a really high caliber opponent" to test just how good Melindo is. The champion is currently spending time with his family in his hometown of Cagayan de Oro. Aldeguer told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that they were looking at a possible bout against former IBF champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia or champion Omar Soto of Mexico.
16 year old sensation Jason Pagara, the WBO Asia-Pacific Youth champion won the vacant Philippine lightweight title against RP#4 contender Arnel Porras of General Santos who was himself a former RP champion. Pagara who was nursing a fever on the eve of the fight wasn?t at his best but still did enough to win a majority decision while Weng Haya lost to grizzled veteran Jaime Barcelona.
Top photo: Milan Melindo (L) and Juma Fundi during Thursday night's fight in Cagayan de Oro City. Photo by King Catriz.
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