Milan Melindo battles Jean Piero Perez

CEBU CITY—Milan Melindo, the latest of the ever growing list of Manny Pacquiao heir apparents, gets to prove his worth when he squares off with Jean Piero Perez of Venezuela Saturday in a 12-round nontitle bout at Waterfront Hotel and Casino here.

The unbeaten 24-year-old from Cagayan de Oro hopes to deliver the kind of performance worthy of international notice so that he can eventually get a crack at a world title.

But he will take on a former WBA champion in Perez in the card which also includes OPBF flyweight championship between Filipino Rocky Fuentes and Japanese Myung Ho Lee.

Melindo and Perez tipped the scale at 112 lb during the official weigh-in held at the crowded SM City yesterday.

Melindo broke his fasting with a weird combination of arroz caldo and spaghetti in one of the tables at the foodcourt.

“I hope to give a good fight and I feel very good about it,” said Melindo who owns a 27-0-0 card with 11 knockouts.