Melindo (35-2-0, 12 KOs) won his interim title against Teeraphong Utaida last Nov. 16 at the Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City, Philippines via a unanimous decision.
While Medindo enjoyed his reign as the interim champion, he needs to bag the regular Light Flyweight title to join compatriots Manny Pacquiao and Jerwin Ancajas as reigning world champions from the Philippines.
Melindo’s first attempt to bag the regular IBF Light Flyweight title was unsuccessful as he lost to Javier Mendoza by technical decision in May 2016 at the Auditorio Municipal Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno, Tijuana, Baja California.
In 2013, Melindo also made an attempt to grab the WBA (Super) and WBO Flyweight titles but he succumb to Juan Francisco Estrada at the Cotai Arena of the Venetian Resort in Macau, China.
Melindo’s scheduled fight against Yaegashi will be his third attempt to capture the regular IBF World Light Flyweight title.
Meanwhile, former world champion Gerry Penalosa, who is part of the entourage of former world champion Marlon Tapales believes Melindo will win over Yaegashi. Tapales lost his bantamweight title to Shohei Omori for not making the contracted weight of 118 pounds. While he lost in the scales, Tapales won over Omori by TKO.
“I see it as 60-40 in favor of Melindo,” Peñalosa said. “Yaegashi is growing old and have slowed down a bit so it’s a good opportunity for Milan to wrest the title from him,” he added.
Panalosa said he will be glad to join Melindo in Japan for the title fight.