Puerto Rican junior middleweight slugger Jorge “Destroyer” Melendez (27-3-1, 26 KOs) is on the verge of getting a fight he has been calling for, for a very long time: an all-action “can’t miss” showdown with the always-dangerous Mexican, Alfredo ‘El Perro’ Angulo (22-3-18 KOs).
With only some purse negotiations left to settle, the pair are set to meet on Saturday, December 14, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and live on SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View, as one of the featured bouts of a blockbuster night of boxing that also features Adrian Broner vs. Marcos Maidana, Jesus Soto Karass vs. Keith Thurman and Victor Ortiz vs. Carlos Molina.
“Let’s get this finished, so I can begin getting ready to give the great people of Puerto Rico my finest victory yet,” said Melendez. “By beating Angulo into retirement, I will put my island back on the boxing map worldwide. It will be a war, but I’m a Puerto Rican warrior who doesn’t run. I have the best power in the entire division and Angulo will be ‘Destroyed’.
Only a select few times per year does a notable fight get made for a wide audience with this much “Fight of the Year” potential. Melendez manager, Edwin Diaz, says he hopes an agreement can be reached with Golden Boy Promotions on purse, to keep this sensational fight a reality. “We are not asking for an excessive amount,” he explained. “In fact, our request is still below the real value of the fight. ‘Destroyer’ vs. ‘El Perro’ will steal the spotlight that night. With so many disappointing matchups this year, this is the kind of guaranteed-action fight boxing needs. Boxing fans and critics alike want this fight, so let’s make it happen.”
Melendez has been calling out Angulo for years, trying to make this exciting fight his calling card to the big time. The 24-year-old was last seen scoring an impressive TKO 2 victory over capable Philadelphia veteran Jamaal Davis on Saturday, October 5, on the TopRank.tv broadcast “Cotto vs. Rodriguez” undercard.
“Today I woke up with more desire and enthusiasm than ever,” continued Melendez. “I’m going to train harder than I ever have for this fight, while my coach, Wilfredo Vázquez, designs the strategy to defeat Angulo. Let’s get this fight negotiation finished so I can get ready. And when that night comes, the dog, ‘El Perro’ will go out screeching and with the tail between his legs.”
Diaz says it is expected that in the coming days, the team of both fighters and Golden Boy Promotions will reach a satisfactory agreement.
