Melindo TKOs Mexican Esquer, keeps title | Inquirer Sports

Melindo TKOs Mexican Esquer, keeps title

By: - Reporter / @cedelfptINQ
/ 01:54 AM January 30, 2012

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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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TAGS: Boxing, Cebu, Juan Esquer, Milan Melindo, Sports

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