BATID na ngayon ang dahilan kung bakit matagal iniwasan ni IBF light flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi ng Japan na magdepensa sa mandatory contender na si Milan Melindo matapos siyang tatlong beses pabagsakin at talunin via 1st round TKO ng Pilipino kamakalawa ng gabi sa Arriake Colloseum, Tokyo, Japan.

Kinailangan pa ni Melindo na maging interim IBF light flyweight champion para harapin ni Yaegashi.

“Yaegashi hit the canvas twice before the fight was stopped when Melindo floored him for a third time with a solid right,” ayon sa ulat ng boxingscene.com

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“The two battled toe-to-toe from the first bell, but Melindo was sharper as the 29-year-old Filipino knocked Yaegashi down three times to post a TKO victory.”

“For the third knockdown, Melindo delivered a perfect right to sink Yaegashi. The stoppage time was 15 seconds left in the round,” ayon sa ulat.

“I got hit with his left hook (for the first down), and looking back, it won him the fight. I wasn’t good enough to win. I have to accept it,” pahayag ni Yaegashi sa post-fight interview.

“I don’t know, if there are needs for me, I’ll do it, and if there will be something that inspires me again, if there’s a fire left in myself, I’ll stand back again.”

Nagulat maging si Melindo sa bilis ng pagwawagi niya kay Yaegashi na kung ilang beses umiwas sa kanya tulad ng dating kampeon na si Mexican Javier Mendoza na tinalo ang Pinoy boxer sa kontrobersiyal na 6th round technical decision noong 2015.

“I knew Yaegashi is a tough fighter and thought I could end up fighting with him for 12 rounds,” dagdag ni Melindo.

Napaganda ni Melindo ang rekord sa 36-2-0, tampok ang 13 knockouts para maging ikaapat na kampeong pandaigdig ng Pilipinas kasama sina WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, IBF super flyweight ruler Jerwin Ancajas at IBF flyweight titilist Donnie Nietes. (Gilbert Espeña)