Melindo (36-2-0, 13 KOs) would prefer a unification match rather than stake his new title in a fight against Petalcorin, a fellow Filipino challenger who is a former interim WBA Light Flyweight titlist.
Melindo is coming off a stunning knockout victory over Akira Yaegashi last May 21 at the Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan to win the IBF World Light Flyweight title.
Melindo started cautiously with jabs in the opening round when he suddenly hit Yaegashi with a solid left to bring the Japanese titlist down for the first time in the round. Rising and recovering a little bit from the first knockdown, Melindo quickly followed up with another hard left hook for a second knockdown midway to the round and finished him with a hard right late in the round.
Melindo is not particularly known as a knockout artist having a KO rate of only 34 percent but he seemed to have developed and improved on his punching power leading to his stunning victory over the Japanese world titlist. Read more:
“Unless it is a mandatory fight, Melindo is better off fighting anyone of the three current Japanese light flyweight titlists in a unification fight,” Melindo’s coach and trainer Edito Villamor told Digital Journal on Friday afternoon at the Elorde Gym, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, Philippines.
The three Japanese titleholders include Kosei Tanaka for WBO, Ryoichi Taguchi for WBA and Ken Shiro for WBC.
Tanaka (9-0-0, 5KOs) is unbeaten in nine pro fights and is the current WBO light flyweight champion. He has fought four Filipino challengers including Vic Saludar and Rene Patilano. He is coming off a unanimous decision win against Angel Acosta last May 20 to retain his WBO junior flyweight title.
Taguchi (24-2-2, 10 KOs) has two losses in his pro career and is the current WBA junior flyweight champion. He also fought and won over two Filipino challengers that includes Florante Condes and Ryan Vito. He is coming off a split decision win over Carlos Canizales last Dec. 31.
Shiro (10-0-0, 5 KOs) is unbeaten in 10 pro fights sand is the current WBC junior flyweight champion. He is coming off a majority decision over Ganiagan Lopez last May 20.
Melindo has a good chance of landing a title fight against either Tanaka or Shiro because they all fought almost simultaneously this month and need to rest before their next fight which could take place before the end of the year. Taguchi has fought in December last year and it is doubtful if he can wait for Melindo’s return fight.
