Filipino fighter Milan Melindo battles reigning champion Akira Yaegashi today for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.
During yesterday afternoon’s official weighin, Melindo (35-2 with 12 KOs) and Yaegashi (25-5 with 13 KOs) both came in at 107 ½ lbs.
This will be Melindo’s third crack at a world title after failed bids against Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada in 2013 and Javier Mendoza, also of Mexico, in 2015.
Melindo arrived in the Japanese capital last Monday and he will get pointers from the Michael Domingo and brothers Edito and Edmond Villamor when the bell rings.
Known for his ring generalship, Melindo feels that Yaegashi, making the third defense, will be forced to surrender his IBF crown this time.
