PINOY PRIDE VII: Rosas overweight for Melindo tiff

CEBU CITY—Unbeaten Filipino Milan Melindo tries to add Mexican veteran Francisco Rosas to his growing list of victims in the headliner of the Pinoy Pride VII: Philippines vs Mexico tonight at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino here.

The 23-year-old Melindo, holder of the World Boxing Organization Intercontinental flyweight crown, totes a 22-0 card with eight knockouts and wants a decisive win over Rosas to further bolster his chances of earning a crack at the world title.

Melindo, however, will have to tangle with a heavier foe after the 31-year-old Mexican, who boasts a 22-8-2 mark with 13 KOs exceeded the weight limit during Friday’s weigh-in for their 12-round tussle.

While Melindo tipped the scales at 111 pounds, the 31-year-old Rosas came in at 117 pounds to the dismay of fight fans at the SM Cebu Entertainment Center.

Given an hour to shed off weight, the Mexican could only go down to 113.5 on his second attempt.

Fight  judge Salven Lagumbay, acting as WBO supervisor in behalf of Asia-Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo, announced that the fight will push through, but declared that Melindo’s Intercontinental title will be left vacant if ever Rosas wins.

Rising stars Jason Pagara and Genesis Servania will also tangle with Mexicans in the supporting bouts  of the card organized by ALA Promotions in cooperation with ABS-CBN.

Just 19-years-old, Pagara, who owns an impressive 27-1 slate with 16 knockouts, battles Rosbel Montaya (12-2-1, 11 KOs), while Servania (14-0) will tackle veteran Gerson Guerrero (34-8, 26 KOs).

Like Rosas,  Montaya also failed to make the junior welterweight limit after checking in at 141 lb. Pagara, the reigning WBO Youth Asia-Pacific titlist, came in at exactly 140 lb.

As in the Melindo-Rosas tussle, Pagara’s title will also be declared vacant in the event the Mexican wins.

Though he has fewer knockouts, Melindo is gaining on power as he has stopped three of his last four foes.

The fight card is part of the Pinoy Pride Series being supported by Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, the City Government of Cebu, Cobra Tunay na Lakas Energy Drink, SM City Cebu, Ayala Active Zone and Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.