Tony Martin has no doubts about Melligen
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 Oct 2010
?It?s not a question of if, I know he will win.? Trainer Tony Martin exuded confidence about Mark Jason Melligen?s chances in his fight against Bladimir Hernandez of Mexico.
The U.S. based trainer talked to philboxing before the start of Tuesday?s press conference to promote the PINOY PRIDE fight card at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. Melligen is under contract with Top Rank and has fought 8 times overseas. So why bring him back to fight in Cebu?
?Melligen is not popular in the Philippines. We want to reintroduce him to the Filipino audience. Now that he?ll be fighting in a card shown on ABS-CBN, then the Filipinos can get to see him.?
Melligen was a member of our national boxing team and won a silver medal at the Southeast Asian Games. The welterweight southpaw from Bacolod City has been training at the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas. Has the atmosphere there changed because of all the negative news reports about Floyd Mayweather?
?No. It?s terrific. They never treated us different. Melligen has sparred against Floyd. But of course, if the Pacquaio fight happens, we wouldn?t spar with Mayweather. Melligen is with Top Rank and a Filipino. We would be crucified here.? Martin answered. ?But I am friends with Roger Mayweather and the other guys. Cornelius Boza Edwards, who lost his title to Rolando Navarette is there.?
Martin has nothing but praises for his boxer. ?Melligen is a world class fighter. He needs to work on certain things, like finishing an opponent when he is in trouble.? He also told us an amusing story about Melligen racking up 10,000 dollars worth of long distance phone calls to the Philippines during his first few weeks in Vegas.
Melligen (W 19 (KO 13) - L 2) versus Hernandez (W 18 (KO 16) - L 3 ) will be on the October 30 boxing card headlined by world ranked AJ ?Bazooka? Banal versus two-time world champion Luis ?El Demoledor? Perez of Nicaragua.
(Photo above ? Melligen hitting the mitts with Martin last Saturday at SM Cebu)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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