MELLIGEN PREVAILS OVER MARTINEZ IN DOMINATING FASHION
By Rod Mijares
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Feb 2011
Mark Jason "MJM Grand/Mighty Mark" Melligen (21-2-0, 14KO), ranked number 2 Filipino welterweight in the Philippines behind the legend and best pound for pound boxer in the world, Manny Pacquiao, prevailed over Mexican Gabriel "El Rey" Martinez (27-2-1, 14KO) at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas in a dominating fashion to start a win for the Philippines vs. Mexico rivalry of the night before the main event between the Filipino challenger Nonito Donaire and Mexican champion Fernando Montiel for the world bantamweight championship belts which Donaire eventually won in shocking and unforgettable drama.
Tony Martin, the British born trainer of Melligen who has a Filipino heart having a Filipino wife and stayed in the Philippines for almost 18 years before migrating to America, defined this fight as a door that will open greater opportunity for Melligen. Sky is the limit if Melligen wins. Martin half-heartedly said after the fight, that Mark could have done better. "He has a chance to finish Martinez in the 7th round but opted to hold off once again." Edito Villamor, Mark's Filipino trainer and his corner man at the fight also commented that Melligen needs to be more aggressive in his future fights to win more fans to his side and be considered for a championship fight.
Although, Martinez is a year younger than Melligen who will be 25 next month, he has 7 more fights or 40 more rounds fought to his credit as compared to Melligen's 22 fights or 117 rounds fought so far before this fight in their professional careers. Inspite of this, Melligen showed he is a better skilled boxer and hungrier to win. When I pointed this out to Melligen's trainer, "Yet, Melligen put Martinez to school," Martin said.
When asked about Melligen's 1-pound over the limit on his first attempt at the weigh-in on Friday, Martin said "For the record, we were closely monitoring Mark's weight. He was 148 pounds last Thursday and we felt confident that shredding 1 pound before the weigh-in would not be a problem. We went to the Mayweather Gym in the morning on Friday and Mark did some calisthenics and conditioning exercise and his weight was 147.2 pounds. He did a little more calisthenics and again took his weight. His weight was 147 pounds. We went to the Mandalay Bay and arrived there at around 2:30 p.m. feeling confident that Mark weight was just perfect. We were at a loss during the weigh-in that he was measured at 148 pounds. It was unfortunate that we later found out that the scale at the Mayweather gym was not accurate. We went to the the Mandalay Bay's sauna and it took us only 10 minutes to shed that one pound."
Melligen is coming out of a 3rd-round TKO win over Mexican Bladimir Hernandez at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino in the Philippines where he fought aggressively and wowed the crowd with his boxing skills, defensive tactics and down to earth appreciation of the boxing fans.
"Kuya, magalaw din siya" (Brod, he was also so elusive). Although, I tried to knock him out, I confessed he was also tough. His punches did not hurt me. It's the head butt that hurt me and it happened I think in the second round," Melligen said whose jabs were so effective that it spelled doomed for Martinez.
What's next for Melligen should be a tougher opponent with a championship caliber and boxing fans, especially Filipinos are hoping for this to happen. Martin, said he is hoping for Alfredo Gomez (22-4-2, 11KO) on May 6, 2011, the day before Pacquiao-Mosley mega fight. Gomez will be fighting the veteran Jose Luis Castillo (62-10-1, 53KO) on March 13, 2011 at the Cowboys stadium in Arlington, Texas for the WBC Continental Americas welterweight title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rod Mijares.
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