MELLIGEN, QUITE IMPRESSIVE IN TRAINING, READY FOR PINOY POWER 3
By Rod Mijares
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 10 Feb 2010
L-R: Trainer Tony Martin, WBC lightwelter champion Devon Alexander and Melligen at Mayweather's Gym in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS -- Mark Jason Melligen, one of the five Filipinos that highlight the Pinoy Power 3 boxing event at Las Vegas Hilton, shows in training why he deserves to be where the action is. His sparring sessions, conditioning and over-all training at Mayweather Gym are outstanding, first class and second to none. This is the scheme laid out by his trainer, Tony Martin, to ensure that a spectacular win for Melligen is the only outcome.
“This is the best he is ever been prepared and the best sparring he has ever had since he came here in America. I can see a very good fight, I can see Mark winning and I can see him making a very good impression for Top Rank,” Martin said as a matter of fact.
“Masaya ako, Kuya, kasi ang naging sparring partner ko mula umpisa ay si Devon Alexander. Talagang bakbakan ang aming ensayo,” Melligen confided in me. (I am happy because my sparring partner since the beginning is Devon Alexander. We were really duking it out and giving our best).
Devon Alexander is non-other than the current WBC light welterweight champion with 19 wins, 12 knockouts and still undefeated. The American Alexander defeated British Junior Witter for the title when Witter retired in the 8th round of their scheduled 12-round championship fight on August 1, 2009 in Rancho Mirage, California. Melligen sparred with Alexander for a total of 54 rounds in 6 or 8-round sessions a day.
“He won’t stop. He is steady. To be a champion, you must be steady and he is real steady,” when asked by Bev Llorente of ABS-CBN what Devon Alexander thought of Filipino Mark Jason Melligen.
After 4 successful and impressive fights in his campaign in America, Melligen suffered a split decision loss to Mexican Michel Rosales last November 13, 2009. Where Rosales was more aggressive, Melligen was hesitant. Although, Melligen’s power punches hit its marks more consistently, Rosales kept on throwing more punches and this spelled doom for Melligen.
“He is more focused now and more discipline. He is ready for this fight. He will make the Filipinos proud of him again. Mark knows that this is his final chance to make a statement and redeem himself. He really has to eradicate the memory of his last lost,“ Tony answered when asked what they learned from Melligen’s lost.
“Kuya, walang nagbago sa style ko. May nadagdag at ilalabas ko iyon sa gabi ng laban ko. Mga combination,” (I did not change my style. I added into it and I will show it at the night of my fight. More combinations) Melligen said.
“We have done everything in training. I told him (Melligen) you have to throw combination punches. When you hurt the guy you have to finish him. Mark, there is no stepping back this time and when you get in a pocket stay in that pocket and fight it out.. you get to be aggressive. There is no use fighting going backwards because apparently in Las Vegas they don’t appreciate that style of fighting . They only appreciate someone coming forward. At the same time he will not just throw his defense away,” Martin said.
“What we try to do for the past couple of months is to increase his combinations . I’ve got a feeling he is going to surprise everyone. Even if he is inside, he has to throw punches not just go into defense but he has to counter and I hope these will come out in the night of the fight,” Martin continued.
Melligen, the 23-year old pride of Bacolod City, Philippines with a record of 16 wins (12 KO), 2 losses and 0 draw will be up against undefeated 25-year old American Raymond Gatica with a record of 11 wins (6 KO) and 0 draw.
Pinoy Power 3 also highlights Filipino WBA world super flyweight interim champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. against Mexican Gerson Guerrero; undefeated Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales from Cagayan de Oro City against defending Mexican champion Fernando Montiel for the WBO bantamweight title; former world champion Gerry “Fearless” Penalosa from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental against Puerto Rican Eric Morel for the interim WBO bantamweight title; and featherweight Bernabe Concepcion from Binangonan, Rizal against Puerto Rican Mario Santiago.
“If all the Filipinos win in this fight, this is truly Pinoy Power 3,” Tony Martin said. Besides, all of them dedicate their fight to Z Gorres, their friend who will be watching in the ring side.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.
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