Milan Melindo

At just 23 years years old Filipino prospect Milan Melindo (25-0, 9) may well be one of the most nailed on future champions in the sport. Born in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental though now based in Cebu City, Cebu Melindo is a fighter who has flown under the radar amazingly well despite some of the sweetest skills in the sport and one of the most under-rated records of any fighter out there, in fact some may argue with even classing him as a prospect.

Melindo started boxing as a youngster and there are reports that he fought over 500 amateur bouts, including winning gold twice at the Palarong Pambansa (the Filipino national games). Melindo would then turn professional way back in 2005 aged just 17 by winning a decision on his debut against Meljun Grumo and since then he has slowly crafted a very solid career.

After 2 years as a professional Melindo picked up his first title when he defeated Pongpan Patanakan Gym for the WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title. Less than a year later Melindo would add the WBA Inter-Continental light flyweight title to trophy cabinet, though it wasn't until his 18th fight that Melindo proved his class as he faced former world champion Muhammad Rachman. At the time Rachman's record stood at an impressive 62-6-5 with only a single loss in the previous decade (a narrow points loss to the power punching Florante Condes) with Melindo seen as taking a giant step up in class. Melindo would be too quick for Rachmann who despite never giving up looked to be a level behind the young speedy upstart who took a clear unanimous decision and put the first big name on his record.

Following the win over Rachman it would have made sense for Melindo to push on with his career though instead he had 4 fights against lesser opponents (including 2 time PABA Super Flyweight champion Komrit Lukkuongmuekol) as he spent the following 18 months remaining busy. It wasn't until November 2010 that Melindo would again mix with world level level fighters as he faced former IBF Flyweight champion Carlos Tamara. In his previous bout Tamara had controversially lost the IBF title to Argentinian Luis Alberto Lazarte though at times Melindo make it look easy as he took a wide decision over Tamara to claim the second scalp of a former world title holder.

Again it looked like time for Melindo to kick on with things and start challenging for world titles of his own, though instead he decided to blow out Mexican veteran Rosendo Vega (KO1). Again it looked like Melindo's momentum had been killed off until he returned to the ring in September 2011 and defeated former title challenger Francisco Rosas. Despite Rosas weighing more on the scales than Melindo the Filipino eased to victory as he forced Rosas to retire after 10 one sided rounds.

Melindo will defend his WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title this coming weekend as he faces Juan Esquer, Melindo is expected to defeated Esquer (a former world title challenger himself). Whilst Melindo has perhaps padded his record somewhat it is impressive that 23 year old already holds wins over 2 former champions and looks to add a second title challenger to his record. Though hopefully this will be the last fight for Melindo, a supremely talented and lightning quick fighter, before he looks for a world title fight of his own. Whilst his division is one of the tougher ones (with champions including future hall of famer Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, My 2011Fighter of the Year Brian Viloria, the hard hitting Hernan "Tyson" Marquez and South African Moruti Mthalane) he has the skills to hold his own with any of them.

Video below thanks to MrPacman4ever