SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Milan Melindo is closer to being a world champion than ever after winning the interim IBF junior flyweight title with a unanimous decision over Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr on Saturday, November 26 at Cebu Coliseum in Cebu City, Philippines.
Two of the judges scored the fight 115-113 while a third scored it 117-111 all in favor of Melindo (35-2, 12 knockouts) of Cagayan de Oro City, who moves his winning streak to 3 straight. Sakkreerin (31-5-1, 16 KOs) of Pathum Thani, Thailand loses for the first time in 5 fights, since dropping a technical decision to Katsunari Takayama in April of 2015 for the IBF strawweight title.
(READ: Pagara returns from KO loss with decision win over Ghanaian foe)
Melindo, 5 years older than his foe at 28, had lost decisions to Javier Mendoza and Juan Francisco Estrada in world championship attempts. Now Melindo will now get first crack at IBF 108 pound champion Akira Yaegashi, the Japanese mutliple-time champion who has been sidelined with a torn rotator cuff since a tougher-than-expected fight against durable Mexican Martin Tecuapetla last May.
Lindsey Tucker, IBF Championships Chairman, tells this writer that Yaegashi will have a “medical exception” due to injury until March 29, 2017. Should he fail to meet Melindo before then, Yaegashi risks losing the title and Melindo gaining full recognition as champion. – Rappler.com
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