MILAN “El Metodico” Melindo settled for a unanimous decision over Mexican Jose Alfredo Rodriguez last night to clinch the WBO international flyweight championship in Pinoy Pride 23 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Though Melindo was clearly the better fighter, he failed to knock down Rodriguez and leaned on the judges’ scores of 118-110, 118-109 and 119-109 to notch his 30th win against a lone loss dealt him by Juan Francisco Estrada in Macau in July.
Melindo, who sustained a cut on the nose bridge and a small cut below his left eye, handed Rodriguez his third loss in 32 fights.
Rising star Jason Pagara trounced Vladimir Baez of Dominican Republic en route to another lopsided unanimous decision in their battle for the WBO international light welterweight title.
AJ Banal started his comeback with a hard earned unanimous decision over Puerto Rican Lucian Gonzalez in their bantamweight tussle.
Veteran Jimrex Jaca started the Filipinos’ onslaught with a first round knockout of Indonesian Wellem Reyk.