Tiniyak ni one-time world title challenger Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. na gagawin niya ang lahat ng makakaya upang maiuwi sa Thailand ang bakanteng IBF interim junior flyweight title na paglalabanan nila Pinoy boxer Milan “El Metodico” Melindo sa Pinoy Pride 39: IBF World Championships ngayon sa Cebu Coliseum sa Cebu City.
Kapwa pasok sa timbang ang dalawang fighter sa main event ng boxing card sa isinagawang weigh-in kahapon kung saan may bigat na 108 lbs. ang Pinoy, habang tumimbang si Sakkreerijn Jr. sa 107.6 lbs.
Sa supporting card, tama rin ang timbang nina Jason “El Niño” Pagara (146.4 lbs.) at dating Nicaraguan world champion Jose “Quiebra Jicara” Alfaro (146.6 lbs.).
Pasok din ang timbang nina “Prince” Albert Pagara sa 126 lbs. at karibal na si Raymond Commey ng Ghana (122.2 lbs.).
May kartang 31-4-1, tampok ang 16 knockouts, dumating si Sakkreerin nitong Lunes sa Cebu City kasama ang kanyang English trainer na si Rian Munton at nangakong iuuwi ang korona sa Pathum Thani, Thailand.
“I will do my best for the boxing fans who will watch the fight,” sabi ni Sakkreerin sa Philboxing.com. “I promise everyone that it’s going to be a good fight.”
Ayon kay Munton, napag-aralan na nilang mabuti ang estilo ni Melindo at mayroon silang perpektong plano para magwagi sa Pinoy boxer na may kartadang 34-2-0, kabilang ang 12 TKO.
“We had a very good preparation for this fight. We have different techniques and had a beautiful training camp full with sparring. We also studied Melindo’s style,” ani Munton. “We prepared our best for this fight. We will make adjustments as the fight goes on. Melindo has his own weaknesses but I won’t highlight that because we respect him. Melindo’s a good technical boxer. All we can promise is a good fight.”
“The pressure is on Milendo because everyone’s expecting him to win a world title while Fahlan can fight him by a distance or close range,” diin ni Munton. “Melindo is a good boxer but Fahlan is younger and fresher and he is not many miles away from Milan’s experience.” - Gilbert Espeña