By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Ladies and gentlemen, Milan Melindo is officially back as a boxing world champion.
After a roller coaster ride during the past five years of his professional career, Melindo is back on the sport’s pedestal after claiming the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OBPF) silver featherweight championship belt last January 13, 2023.
Melindo made a name for himself again after out-boxing Chaiwat Buatkrathok of Thailand during their silver featherweight title match held in Cebu City.
This is only Melindo’s second fight in two years and is slowly getting back to his top form when he previously held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-flyweight titles last 2017.
Melindo showed shades of his championship years when he bullied his Thai foe using his crisp jabs that helped establish his early momentum in the fight.
The same familiar pattern was shown against Buatkrathok when the Filipino pug varied his offensive approach in the middle rounds to keep the Thai guessing.
Melindo’s intensity then ramped up in the next rounds after unleashing his signature uppercut-hook combination that kept on landing.
Aside from his aggressive attack, Melindo’s slick counter-punching also wowed the thousands of Cebuanos in attendance.
Melindo’s boxing clinic then paid off dividends after all three judges scored the bout in favor of him, 97-93, 98-92, 98-92.
With the win, Melindo now holds an impressive record of 39 wins, 14 knockouts, and five defeats while the Thai slugger fell to 37 wins and eight losses.
