By Nick Giongco
Milan Melindo is right on track in his buildup for his world light-flyweight unification battle with Ryoichi Taguchi of Japan scheduled Dec. 31 in Tokyo.
Melindo (37-2 with 13 K0s) is the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) king while Taguchi (26-2-2 with 12 K0s) is the World Boxing Association ruler and they are set to slug it out at the New Ota City Gymnasium.
Fighting out of the ALA Boxing Club of Cebu, Melindo is training under the watchful eyes of former two-time world title challenger Edito Villamor.
Team Melindo leaves for Tokyo on Dec. 26, nursing hopes of adding the WBA belt to his collection.
Melindo is just one of three reigning Filipino world champions.
The others are ALA stablemate Donnie Nietes and Jerwin Ancajas of the Joven Jimenez Stable.