By CALVIN CORDOVA

CEBU CITY — Battles have actually been erratic and even at 34 years of ages, Milan “El Metodico” Melindo wishes to show that he’s not yet over the hill.

Melindo’s quote to go back to prominence starts Wednesday, Jan. 11, when he handles a Thai challenger for the centerpiece of the Prime Stags Sports Boxing Advertisings’ “Prime Battle II” at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Pundits see Melindo (Melindo (38W-5L, 14KOs) as the underdog versus Chaiwat Buatkrathok (38-7, 25KOs) however the previous world champ isn’t troubled at all.

” It does not matter if I am the underdog or the preferred. I’ll simply do my finest inside the ring,” stated Melindo after the card’s weigh-in on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at SM Beachfront.

At stake in the Melindo-Buatkrathok battle is the uninhabited OPBF Silver featherweight belt.

Buatkrathok tipped the scales at 125.2 while it took Melindo 3 efforts prior to making the 126-pound limitation.

Melindo was 3 pounds over the limitation in his very first effort. He weighed 126.1 pounds in his 2nd journey to the scales and was on the dot in his 3rd effort however needed to remove naked to arrive.

Totally familiar with the significance of the battle, Melindo stated he needed to compromise a lot so he can be in good shape.

” I didn’t commemorate my birthday, I didn’t commemorate Christmas. There were food in those events however I picked not to consume. I simply slept. I trained hard for this battle,” stated Melindo.

Within earshot of Melindo, Buatkrathok boldly anticipated a knockout triumph.

” I will knock him out in within 6 rounds,” Buatkrathok stated through an interpreter.

Melindo simply shook off his challenger’s declaration.

” Fighters would state things to thrill individuals. We will simply see who is the much better fighter come battle day,” Melindo stated.

Melindo’s last combated in Cebu in 2017 where he scored a split choice triumph over South African Hekkie Budler to combine the IBF and IBO flyweight titles.

Melindo then suffered 3 straight losses in Japan, the last 2 by means of TKO versus Kenshiro Teraji and Junto Nakatani.

Very little was spoken with Melindo ever since particularly after the ALA Boxing folded in 2020.

Melindo last saw action in April 2 in 2015 that saw him winning by blockage versus Omayao at the Southern City Colleges in Zamboanga City.

Melindo’s promoter, Pocholo Padilla, vice president of Prime Stags Promo, stated they still think that the Cagayan de Oro-native fighters still has what it requires to end up being terrific once again.