MELLIGEN INSISTS ADJAHO CAN?T HANDLE HIS POWER
By Ron Galarpe
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 Jul 2010
Welterweight Mark Jason Melligen (18-2, 13 O?s) has laughed off the boasts of Anges Adjaho (25-2, 14 KO?s) that he would whip the Filipino southpaw in their clash in Reno, Nevada on Sunday, Manila Time, and insisted Adjaho won?t be able to handle his power.
Adjaho who is from Benin but fights out of New York has moved up in weight to face Melligen after Michel Rosales backed out of a rematch with Melligen who had dropped a ten round split decision to the 5?11? Mexican in their first encounter on November 13, 2009 when judges Paul Smith and Eric Cheek scored it 96-94 for Rosales while Burt Clements had Melligen winning 98-92.
Longtime Cebu City resident Tony Martin who handles Melligen?s training in Las Vegas at the Floyd Mayweather Jr gym said Adjaho has been ?trash talking saying he is going to beat the s?t out of Mark but both of us smile and treat it with the contempt it deserves.?
Martin conceded that Adjaho ?is good, no question about that? pointing out that he had fought two world title eliminators , losing by a split decision to Miguel Acosta in a WBA super featherweight title eliminator on October 13, 2007 and losing by a 9th round knockout to Antonio De Marco in a WBC lightweight eliminator on July 11, 2009. Adjaho also scored a solid eighth round decision over tough Fernando Angulo on February 14, 2009. Angulo had earlier scored a 4th round TKO over Australia-based Filipino Ranee ?KO Kid? Ganoy in a lightweight title eliminator on December 5, 2008 although Angulo came in overweight.
However, Martin noted that while Adjaho ?is slick with fast hands it was at 129 pounds and 135 pounds. Now he is stepping up to 147lbs and facing a natural welterweight in Melligen, who can hit like a tank, with KO power in both hands.?
The trainer said that based on the game plan we have ?decided to use against Adjaho to nullify his speed, then I do not see Adjaho being able to handle Marks power. A win is on the cards, there is no other alternative for Mark if he is to step up into the big time. We are both confident.?
Melligen?s training in Las Vegas following initial preparations at the ALA Gym in Cebu where Martin was a long-time and highly respected boxing man has been hard as Martin told us ?I have pushed him and he has responded by staying focused with one thing in his mind for this coming fight to?WIN.?
Martin said Melligen?s sparring has been ? extremely good, no quarter was given in all the sessions. He has sparred a total of 60 rounds, most of them with Jesse Vargas who is an up and coming Jr, welterweight prospect with Floyd Mayweather Promotions. We also utilized the help of a middleweight from Chicago and two local boys, both being true welterweights.?
Martin added, Melligen is ? staying focused, he is feeling good, his spirits are high, and unlike his opponent he is going to let his fists do the talking come fight night. As of today his weight is 149lbs, perfect.?
At the same time the trainer emphasized that Top Rank matchmaker Brad Goodman has ? done a great job for us and I for one, as well as Mark, have great faith in him and it is a pleasure working with him.?
Martin and the members of Team Melligen leave for Reno on Thursday morning .
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ron Galarpe.
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