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[av_heading heading=’Melindo loses IBF world title in Japan ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Milan Melindo failed to unify the world light flyweight belts after losing his IBF title to WBA titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi via unanimous decision at the Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
The fighters engaged in a 12-round battle on Dec. 31, 2017. The rough fight left both wounded but it was Taguchi who ended up as the victor with the scores 116-112, 117-111, 117-111.
They apparently tested each other with slow punches early in the first round until Melindo became aggressive late in the period with multiple combinations on the stunned Japanese fighter.
The Filipino’s fiery start took a toll on him as he appeared gassed up in the next few rounds. Taguchi took advantage of this, delivering quick punches to raise his edge.
Melindo sustained a cut above the left eye from a head butt. He tried to claw his way back in the sixth round but Taguchi was able to keep the Filipino at bay with long-range hits.
The Filipino made another big round in the ninth as he landed body shots on Taguchi but the Japanese made sure his victory in the next three rounds with a back-and-forth exchange with Melindo.
With the defeat, the 29-year-old Melindo’s boxing record dropped to 37-3-0 (win-loss-draw) including 13 stoppage victories, while the 31-year-old Taguchi’s slate improved to 27-2-2 with 12 KOs.
Melindo captured the IBF world title in May 2017 in Japan when he scored a huge first-round stoppage victory over the heavily favored Japanese fighter Akira Yaegashi./PN
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