Thomson to Challenge Melendez
Gilbert Melendez
(Pictures) will defend his Strikeforce
lightweight title against Josh
Thomson (Pictures) on June 27 in San Jose, Calif.,
Strikeforce announced Friday.
"This is a very big fight for the fans, for the promotion and for Josh and me," said Melendez, 26, in a news release. "Josh is a great fighter, but I'm the champ and I plan on remaining the champ for a long time."
The bout, which will headline a card at the HP Pavilion, was originally scheduled for March 29. However, Thomson (14-2) had to undergo surgery on his left shoulder following his September 2007 win over Adam Lynn (Pictures).
"This fight with Gilbert has been a long time coming, and we're ready to do it," said the 29-year-old Thomson, who is a resident of San Jose. "It's not as if we need a feeling-out period. We both know each other very well. We've trained together, we've sparred together. We're gonna come out ready for five rounds, but we're gonna bang it out."
Thomson has won six in a row since dropping a decision to Clay Guida (Pictures) in March 2006. Melendez, 14-1, lost the first bout of his career on New Year's Eve, when Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) outpointed him. The Cesar Gracie (Pictures)-trained fighter, who won the Strikeforce title in June 2006 with a decision over Guida, bounced back in March by stopping Gabe Lemley (Pictures).
"This is a very big fight for the fans, for the promotion and for Josh and me," said Melendez, 26, in a news release. "Josh is a great fighter, but I'm the champ and I plan on remaining the champ for a long time."
The bout, which will headline a card at the HP Pavilion, was originally scheduled for March 29. However, Thomson (14-2) had to undergo surgery on his left shoulder following his September 2007 win over Adam Lynn (Pictures).
"This fight with Gilbert has been a long time coming, and we're ready to do it," said the 29-year-old Thomson, who is a resident of San Jose. "It's not as if we need a feeling-out period. We both know each other very well. We've trained together, we've sparred together. We're gonna come out ready for five rounds, but we're gonna bang it out."
Thomson has won six in a row since dropping a decision to Clay Guida (Pictures) in March 2006. Melendez, 14-1, lost the first bout of his career on New Year's Eve, when Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) outpointed him. The Cesar Gracie (Pictures)-trained fighter, who won the Strikeforce title in June 2006 with a decision over Guida, bounced back in March by stopping Gabe Lemley (Pictures).
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