Friday, August 13th 2010

Mark Melligen Off to Reno for Top Rank Live!

Welterweight contender MARK MELLIGEN, of the Philippines, will wear an ”I Love Cebu” shirt when he hits Reno tomorrow.  He has come a long way for his fight on a Top Rank Live! fight card at the Grand Sierra Resort on Saturday, July 3.

Melligen has been training for weeks to take on Anges Adjaho, of Geneva, N.Y., in the opening televised bout. Melligen was born and raised in Bacolod City in the Phillippines. He is now living and training in Cebu.

“There are 7,016 islands – and you can add one more when the tide goes out – in the Philippines,” said chief trainer Tony Martin. “Mark takes a ferry to go from Bacolod to Cebu. He trains there for weeks, then comes to the United States and does his finishing work with me in Las Vegas.”

Melligen, 24, said he ready to rumble.

“Mark is smart, scientific, punches with power in both hands,” Martin said. “There’s been some internet stuff from the other side (Adjaho has predicted victory, Martin said) but ducks can quake loudly too.  I know what Mark is all about – well-conditioned, fully prepared.”

Martin added, “We had an upset loss earlier against Michelle Rosales because of certain things that happened that turned everything upside down.

“A lot of people don’t know the full story, and we don’t use it as an excuse – we don’t make excuses. But what happened was, on the night of the fight, we were the fight after Z Gorres, and you know what happened with Gorres – he collapsed right before us, before Mark got into the ring. Gorres is Mark’s best friend. I can guarantee you that it was in the back of Mark’s mind. He just didn’t perform well. He didn’t throw enough punches. But in my book, and in a lot of people’s books, he still won that fight. We’re not going to mess about any more.”

In his next fight, Melligen stopped unbeaten 11-0 Ray Gatica, then defeated 18-1 Norberto Gonzalez.

Melligen said he plans to use the first round Saturday to size up 17-2 Adjaho.

“I like to look at what kind of style I will be dealing with,” Melligen said. “Then I get to work.”

Martin said, “I can assure everyone Mark is going right to the top.”

“It really doesn’t matter who I fight,” Melligen said. “I leave all of that to Brad (Goodman, Top Rank matchmaker) to get the big fights.”

Top Rank is promoting in association with LET’S GET IT ON PROMOTIONS and the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. THE FIGHT CARD will be in the Grand Theatre. Tickets are $75, $55, $35 and are available at 1-800-648-3568 or on WWW.GRANDSIERRARESORT.COM

Top Rank Notebook —  Melligen likes to play basketball and years ago he was on a swim team….He trained the last 4 weeks in Las Vegas…In main event, former light flyweight champion Ulises ‘Archie’ Solis of Guadalajara, Mexico will take on Eric Ortiz of Mexico City in a 12 round bout.  Melligen vs. Adjaho is scheduled for 10 rounds at 147 pounds….Adjaho fights in the Steve Nelson stable in upstate New York….Doors open 4 pm. First bell, 5 pm….Top Rank Live! telecast on FSN goes live 10 pm eastern/7 pm pacific….Rich Marotta, Barry Tompkins and Raul Marquez will call the fight….Lupe Contreras is the ring announcer.

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