By Jake Donovan

BoxingScene.com has learned that a rematch between Javier Mendoza and Milan Melindo is in the works, with the winner of such a fight due to land another crack at a junior flyweight title.

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has sought to fill the mandatory slot in the 108 lb. division. The top two spots in the latest IBF rankings are currently vacant, which means newly crowned champ and all-action cult hero Akira Yaegashi is free to defend against the opponent of his choosing for his first title defense.

Next in line will either be Mendoza or Melindo, assuming the two sides go through with such a fight, be it through negotiations or an ordered purse bid.

Mendoza (24-3-1, 19KOs) – who lost his title to Yaegashi in December after having enjoyed a 15-month reign – accepted the offer to enter a title eliminator late Tuesday evening. The team response – including his promoter Zanfer Promotions - came barely 12 hours after being presented the opportunity and well within the three day period granted by the IBF.

Melindo – who fights under the ALA Promotions banner in the Philippines – already agreed to enter the eliminator, regardless of the opponent.

As it turns out, he will now get the chance to avenge a past loss. His previous title opportunity resulted in a technical decision loss to Mendoza in a foul-plagued affair last May. Melindo threw an alarming number of low blows, losing two points and flirting with disqualification all night as his strategy from the opening bell was apparently to rough up Mendoza by any means necessary.

The fight ended with both fighters suffering cuts from separate 6th round headbutts, but Mendoza deemed unfit to continue due to a deep gash over his left eye. The fight went to the scorecards, where Mendoza won a landslide technical decision in what would mark the lone successful defense of the title he claimed in a win over Ramon Garcia in Sept. ’14.

His aforementioned successful title defense was followed by a disastrous road trip, one where Yaegashi offered a comeback for the ages, dominating their pre-New Year’s Eve affair in Tokyo, Japan.

Meanwhile, Melindo (33-2, 12KOs) rebounded with a 10-round split decision over previously unbeaten Mexican prospect Victor Olivo last November in Cebu, Philippines. His previous other bid at a title ended with a 12-round loss to reigning unified flyweight titlist Juan Francisco Estrada in July ’13.

Mendoza was offered the opportunity to fight for the eliminator, passing over several higher-rated contenders to land the proposed assignment.

Top-rated contender and former strawweight titlist Ryo Miyazaki has been in talks for a potential straight-away showdown with countryman Yaegashi, though unclear if his name was just floated or if such a fight will materialize. Mexico’s Juanito Hernandez opted to head in a different direction, as he faces Jesus Silvestre this weekend in a clash where the winner plans to make a run at recently crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) titlist Yu Kimura. Unbeaten Thai contender Paipharob Kokietgym did not accept the opportunity when presented, though his future plans are unclear.

Once the fight is formally ordered by the IBF, Mendoza and Melindo and their respective camps will have 30 days to agree to terms. Should a deal not materialize within the specified timeframe, a purse bid hearing will be ordered at the IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox