MANILA – Filipino fighter Milan Melindo scored a unanimous decision win over Thai boxer Chaiwat Buatkrathok to capture the vacant OPBF silver featherweight belt on Wednesday night at the Cebu City Sports Complex in Cebu City.
The Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental native showed his dominance from start to finish to get a favorable score from judges Edwin Barrientos (97-93), Elmo Coloma (98-92) and Arnel Pasion (98-92).
After fighting only twice the past four years, the former world title challenger Melindo displayed his crisp combinations and solid straights against the visiting Buatkrathok to the delight of the Cebuano crowd.
The Thai fighter had his moments midway in the 10-round contest but was not enough to turn the tide on his side as Melindo went on with the finishing blows to secure the decision win.
With the victory, the 34-year-old Melindo improved his record to 39 wins, five defeats and no draws, with 14 of his wins by way of stoppages. He is also on a two-game winning run after beating Crison Omayao last year via technical decision.
The 30-year-old Buatkrathok, on the other hand, saw his boxing slate dropped to 38-8-0 win-loss-draw, including 25 stoppage wins. This was also the Thai boxer’s third loss in his final four bouts.
Negrense Ryan Sermona, meanwhile, continued his slump as he suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Carlo Bacaro in the co-main event of the match organized by John Jigo Dacua.
The Himamaylan, Negros Occidental-native Sermona tried his best to keep in step with the aggressive Baraco, who is from Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, but was not enough to end his three-bout losing skid.
The 35-year-old Sermona thus saw his record dropped to 21-12-0, including 14 victories by way of stoppages, while the 23-year-old Bacaro stayed perfect at 10-0-0, with six stoppage wins.
In other results, Noli James Maquilan (5-1-0, 3 KOs) handed Kit Ceron Garces (5-1-0, 4 KOs) his first defeat via unanimous decision, while Alvin Camique (5-1-0, 1 KO) decisions Marco Pomar (4-2-0, 2 KOs)./PN
