By CALVIN CORDOVA
CEBU CITY — Fights have been sporadic and even at 34 years old, Milan “El Metodico” Melindo wants to prove that he’s not yet over the hill.
Melindo’s bid to return to prominence begins Wednesday, Jan. 11, when he takes on a Thai opponent for the main event of the Prime Stags Sports Boxing Promotions’ “Prime Fight II” at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Pundits see Melindo (Melindo (38W-5L, 14KOs) as the underdog against Chaiwat Buatkrathok (38-7, 25KOs) but the former world champion isn’t bothered at all.
“It doesn’t matter if I am the underdog or the favorite. I’ll just do my best inside the ring,” said Melindo after the card’s weigh-in on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at SM Seaside.
At stake in the Melindo-Buatkrathok duel is the vacant OPBF Silver featherweight belt.
Buatkrathok tipped the scales at 125.2 while it took Melindo three attempts before making the 126-pound limit.
Melindo was three pounds over the limit in his first attempt. He weighed 126.1 pounds in his second trip to the scales and was on the dot in his third attempt but had to strip naked to get there.
Fully aware of the significance of the fight, Melindo said he had to sacrifice a lot just so he can be in tip-top shape.
“I didn’t celebrate my birthday, I didn’t celebrate Christmas. There were food in those occasions but I chose not to eat. I just slept. I trained hard for this fight,” said Melindo.
Within earshot of Melindo, Buatkrathok boldly predicted a knockout victory.
“I will knock him out in within six rounds,” Buatkrathok said through an interpreter.
Melindo just shrugged off his opponent’s pronouncement.
“Boxers would say things to excite the people. We will just see who is the better boxer come fight day,” Melindo said.
Melindo’s last fought in Cebu in 2017 where he scored a split decision victory over South African Hekkie Budler to unify the IBF and IBO flyweight titles.
Melindo then suffered three straight losses in Japan, the last two via TKO against Kenshiro Teraji and Junto Nakatani.
Not much was heard from Melindo since then especially after the ALA Boxing folded up in 2020.
Melindo last saw action in April 2 last year that saw him winning by stoppage against Omayao at the Southern City Colleges in Zamboanga City.
Melindo’s promoter, Pocholo Padilla, vice president of Prime Stags Promotion, said they still believe that the Cagayan de Oro-native boxers still has what it takes to become great again.
