High above their hotel room overlooking the massive Tokyo Dome, Filipino fighter Milan Melindo and trainer Edito ‘Ala’ Villamor are plotting the downfall of Japanese champion Akira Yaegashi on May 21.
With less than a week before challenging Yaegashi for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-fly crown, Melindo insists that he has the defending champion all figured out and that a new champion will be crowned at the Ariake Coliseum.
“Ready to fight,” said Melindo, who arrived in Japan on Monday from Cebu City.
“I am confident that I will become the new champion…my technique will prevail,” he said.
Even Vilamor, a two-time world title challenger, swears Melindo has more than 50-50 chance of winning.
“Yaegashi is not that strong,” said Villamor, stressing that Melindo has fought stronger foes.
Yaegashi (25-5 with 13 KOs) will be making the third defense of the IBF 108-lb title.
Melindo (35-2 with 12 KOs) trained long and hard for what could be his last crack at a world title.
