Milan “Metodico” Melindo made it a very short night for Jesus Geles of Colombia. Hooks to the ribs sent Geles down three times in round one. Referee Danrex Tapdasan stopped the carnage at 2:21. Melindo remains unbeaten in 27 fights and won the WBO International flyweight belt. He also scored an impressive win against a former interim world champion.
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
Gabriel Rosado, the current USA Pennsylvania State light middleweight champion, will take on Sechew Powell, the former International Boxing Association Intercontinental light middleweight champion, in a 12-round title bout to be held on June 1, 2012.
The duo will headline the pay-per-view jointly organised and promoted by J Russell Peltz of Peltz Boxing Promotions Incorporation and Kathy Duva of Main Events and will have the vacant WBO Intercontinental light middleweight title up for grabs.
The showdown will be co-headlined by another 12-round bout between Ronald Cruz and Prenice Brewer for the vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title. Gabriel recently took part in a press conference and shared his thoughts about upcoming opponent Powell.
Gabriel, 26, has been in a total 24 bouts and emerged victorious in 19. The Philadelphian proud has nailed 11 of his opponents by knockout and since his last loss to Derek Ennis is on a five-bout win streak.
Rosado has evolved into a fine pugilist and has sharpened his skills substantially with the passage of time. His opponent, Powell, 32, has a bit upper hand as far as the experience is concerned.
Powell has been in a total 30 bouts and boasts 26 wins. The southpaw Sechew has nailed 15 of his opponents by knockout and is going through a bit tough phase of his career as he has collected two consecutive losses in his last two bouts.
As far as the technicalities are concerned, Powell still has a bit upper hand as he has a better knockout and win ratio. The only facet that might help Gabriel in pinning Powell is his height.
Gabriel is much longer in height which gives him a substantial reach advantage eventually enabling him to throw his jabs from a considerable safe distance. At the same time, Powell possesses an upper hand as he is a southpaw whereas Rosado follows an orthodox stance.
During the media interaction, Gabriel shared his excitement and stated, “At first I wasn’t crazy about fighting a lefty, but the junior middleweight division is full of them so it all turned out for the better. I’m talking about Paul Williams, James Kirkland, Erislandy Lara. These are guys I need to get in there with so fighting Sechew Powell is another step down that road.
Rosado, also known as the ‘King’, further added, “I know a lot of people are skeptical, saying that the last guy I beat (Jesus Soto-Karass) was made to order for me. We’ll see if they were right or wrong after June 1.”
It must be noted that Rosado was originally scheduled to take on Joel Julio but due to his unavailability, Powell was signed for the title bout. Gabriel is currently undergoing a strenuous training session at world’s renowned trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym.
THE next best thing to a world title shot is facing an opponent who has experienced being at the top. That is what’s in store for the unbeaten Milan Melindo, as he patiently waits for his moment to wear the coveted crown.
The 24-year-old world-rated tactician is taking a cerebral approach to the ring as the supporting main event of the 14th installment of the popular “Pinoy Pride” series, headlined by a world title clash between World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and Felipe Salguero, on June 2 at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.
Melindo defends his Inter-Continental flyweight belt and is also gunning for the vacant WBO International flyweight belt against ex-WBO light flyweight king Jesus Geles.
“Any fight against a former world champion will always be tough. I can’t say if his next fight will be for a world title as we are just waiting for the offer as Milan is now WBO No. 1,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu.
The outcome of WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria’s upcoming title defense against Mexican rival Omar Nino Romero on May 12 would somehow dictate Melindo’s title hopes.
“Milan wants to fight for a world title and we believe he is ready. We are just waiting for the right opportunity,” said Aldeguer, who isn’t too keen of an all-Filipino war between Melindo and Viloria.
Melindo, 26-0 with 10 knockouts, is rated No. 1 in the WBO, No. 7 in World Boxing Council, No. 8 in the International Boxing Federation and No. 9 in the World Boxing Association.
Geles, 24, is on a comeback trail after losing a fourth round knockout to Ramon Garcia in their rematch last year. Geles won the interim WBO light flyweight belt in 2010 after beating Omar Soto by majority decision, he successfully defended his interim crown with a razor-thin split decision over Garcia. After being declared the regular champion, Geles bowed down to Garcia in their rematch. The Columbian owns a 13-2-1 record with five knockouts.
“It will be an interesting tactical fight as both can box and brawl. It will depend on who will be more calculated,” said Aldeguer.
There is a moment in every young prospects career that he is given a grizzled veteran as a measuring stick if he truly is the real deal. This is the opportunity for unbeaten Genesis Servania to prove his worth as he trades leathers with battle-scarred former world title challenger Genaro Garcia in the undercard of “Pinoy Pride 14”.
“It’s a risky fight for Servania but that’s the only way to find out if he is ready to go to the next level. In ‘Pinoy Pride’ the goal is to feature great fights that fans could be excited about. Yes it is for a WBC regional title,” said Aldeguer.
Hard punching junior welterweight Ruslan Provodnikov (21-1, 14KOs) is very happy with his upcoming fight, when he defends his WBO Inter-Continental title against Nick Casal (22-4, 17KOs) on June 29th at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York.
As BoxingScene.com reported last week, Provodnikov will train for a few weeks in the Philippines – where trainer Freddie Roach will use him as a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao, who is currently training for a June 9th defense against Timothy Bradley.
By Ruslan Chikov
Liverpool star Stephen Smith returns to his home city on Friday 11th May to headline the Olympia, live on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546).
Smith will make the first defence of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental Super-Featherweight title against tough Spaniard Francisco Urena.
The 26-year-old is aiming to stay on track for a rematch with Lee Selby who inflicted the first loss on his record last September to take the Scouser’s British and Commonwealth titles in one of the biggest domestic upsets of last year.
He roared back with back-to-back first round wins over Arpad Vass in February and Ben Jones last month to win the title and he’ll be keeping an eye on rival Selby who defends his titles two weeks later in Newport.
And the Liverpool FC fanatic will be looking to make it a hat-trick of first rounders against Urena who has never been stopped in 21 fights.
Smith said, “I’m looking forward to returning to Liverpool to fight in front of my loyal home fans again and give them a good performance to show that I’m back to my best,”
“Urena looks like a tough challenger, but I haven’t seen too much of him yet, from what I’ve heard he likes to come forward which will play into my hands,”
“It would be great to stop him in the first round, like the last two have gone, but I don’t go in looking to end things early it’s just the way things have worked out and if I see an opening I go for it,”
“Of course, I want the fight with Selby again to have the chance to reclaim my titles and to put things right and I know I’ll get him down the line,”
“I’m fighting regularly, keeping sharp and improving all the time so when I do face him I’ll beat him.”
The Olympia undercard features unbeaten super-middleweight Rocky Fielding in an eight-rounder; unbeaten light-middleweight prospect Joe Selkirk; Ellesmere Port super-flyweight Paul Butler, plus Liverpool’s Andy Coulqhoun and Lyndon Newman.
Tickets are priced at £30, £40 and £60 and are available from Frank Warren Promotions on 01992 550 888 and Olympia Box Office on 0151 263 6633.
http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/04/stephen-smithv-vs-francisco-urena-on-may-11th/
Former IBF Welterweight champion Jan Zaveck will face WBO Africa champion Bethuel Ushona for the WBO Inter-Continental Welterweight title tomorrow In Manibor, Slovenia. Zaveck, 35, wants to pick up this minor strap before reloading for another world title shot. The fight will be streamed live in the WBO WEBSITE for all countries expect Germany, Albania, and Slovenia; which will be shown on live German TV (Das Vierte). The fight card will begin at 7:00pm CET.
