Melindo TKOs Mexican Esquer, keeps title

Milan Melindo, showing he’s ready for a world title shot, stopped Mexican Juan Esquer in the seventh round to retain his WBO Intercontinental flyweight title Saturday at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

The 23-year-old Melindo wore down Esquer with jabs and combinations until the Mexican was unable to continue at the 2:16 mark of the seventh round.

But Melindo, a native of Cagayan de Oro City, was in total control despite sustaining a cut in the sixth round following an accidental clash of heads.

The win lined Melindo up for possible world title fights as he now holds the WBO’s No. 1 ranking. Brian Viloria holds the WBO belt, while Hernan “Tyson” Marquez owns the WBA version. Thailand’s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam is the WBC champ.

In the main undercard of the event dubbed “Pinoy Pride XI: Philippines vs The World,” Lorenzo Villanueva kept his perfect record with a stirring first-round knockout of Mexican Diego Ledesma.

Villanueva, who raised his record 22-0, jarred Ledesma with a left straight, before unleashing a combination that sent the Mexican to the canvass.

Referee Tony Pesons counted out Ledesma at 1:17 mark of the first round.

Filipino fighters Mhar Jhun Macahilig, Merlito Sabillo and Joseph Von Minoza also prevailed against their foreign counterparts.

Macahilig knocked out Kaichon Sor Vorapin in 2:01 of the second round; Sabillo won by unanimous decision over Sofyan Effendi, and Minoza came away with a one-sided decision over Korean Kim Yoo-shin in the event presented by ALA Promotions in cooperation with ABS-CBN.