Milan Melindo (37-2, 13 KO) will once again look to conquer another champion in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Reigning IBF World Light Flyweight champion Milan Melindo will fly to Japan for a unification bout against WBA counterpart Ryoichi Taguchi (26-2-2, 12 KO) on Sunday, December 31, at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
ALA Boxing Promotions officially announced in a press conference on Friday morning in Cebu City.
“My goal is to get all the belts sa aking division. Kelangan ko lang na patuloy na magensayo at suporta niyo,” Melindo said during the press conference.
Melindo, who unified the IBF titles by knocking out Akira Yaegashi in Tokyo last May 21, is coming off a close decision win over IBO champion Hekkie Budler for his first defense last September 16.
In El Metodico’s quest to stamp his class in the 108-pound division, he faces fellow champion Taguchi in his return to Japan.
This is Taguchi’s seventh title defense, after winning the belt back in December 31, 2014, in the same venue.
ALA Boxing head coach Edito Villamor expects the best version of Milan to enter the ring, as he is determined to stamp his class among the country’s finest boxers.
“Mahalaga talaga itong laban na ito para kay Milan kasi ito ang dream niya, na mai-unify ang mga titles,” Villamor told Tiebreaker Times in a phone interview. “Gusto niyang magkaroon ng pangalan para sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng pag-unify sa mga ito.”
