If you are like any boxer who fought 3 successful fights in a matter of less than 4 months, especially, in foreign lands, you would need a vacation in your home country long enough to rest your body and savor the taste of winnings even just for a moment. But you are not Triple M, Mighty Mark (Jason) Melligen and you did not come from the reputable ALA Boxing gym of Cebu where sacrifice, hard work, discipline and ambitions are synonymous to success.
The true Triple M, Mighty Mark (Jason) Melligen arrived today in Las Vegas by Philippine Airlines after a very short stay in Bacolod and in Cebu. He was met at the airport by his Las Vegan trainer Tony Martin and will resume training on Monday in preparation for his upcoming fight against Michel Rosales of Mexico on August 15, 2009 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as part of the Pinoy Power 2 and an undercard of Filipino Nonito Donaire vs. Rafael Conception of Panama City for the interim WBA world super flyweight title.
Melligen who was born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental sought out the wisdom of Mr. Antonio Aldeguer, Cebu’s boxing benefactor and patron in guiding his career only 3 years ago and joined the ranks of world class boxers that include the likes of WBO Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, WBO Oriental Bantamweight champion Z Gorres, Czar Amonsot who fought Australian Michael Katsidis to a very gruelling and helluvah fight, WBO Asia Pacific Youth Super Flyweight Champion AJ Banal, WBO Oriental Bantamweight champion Michael Domingo, WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight champion Milan Melindo and current WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes to name a few in ALA Promotions/Gym. Look where he is now.
Melligen will continue his extensive training at the famous Mayweather gym in Las Vegas. It was here where his reputation was cemented and the news of his boxing prowess caught the attention of Roger Mayweather and maybe whose words could have influenced Top Rank Promotions to ink him a four-year contract and earned him the best young prospect to date for Bob Arum. Of course, Tony Martin’s reputation as a good handler/adviser has something to do with Melligen’s rise to prominence. It was also at the Mayweather gym where he previously sparred and held his own against the great one, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and recently was credited for providing a tough sparring sessions with the triumphant Marcos Rene Maidana of Argentina who prevailed against the more prominent and heralded Victor Ortiz of Golden Boy Promotions. Thanks to Mighty Mark Melligen, Maidana came out so much prepared.
“Hard to say. He has an impressive record but I don’t know about the quality of his previous opponents. Mind you, I am not overly concerned with his credential,” Martin said when asked what he thinks of Melligen’s tall opponent, Michel Rosales. “I can only emphasize to the Filipino fans that we are here to win at whatever cost. We will endeavor to provide him the best possible sparring partners that are available in Las Vegas and we will push him to the limits of his endurance in preparation for his forthcoming fight. I am also happy to report that Filipino trainer Edmundo Villamor who is currently training Donnie Nietes in California for his forthcoming title defense on the 18th of July, 2009 will be part of Team Melligen thereafter to assure a win for us.”
Melligen who lost to a 6’2” Thailander in 2005 Southeast Asean Games held in Bacolod City for an eventual silver medal said “I am already used to fighting boxers taller than me. I even won against taller Filipinos at 5’10” and 5’11”. I have learned a lot after that lost and I believe in my coaches who will provide me an excellent training I need in order to win.”
It was also worth noting that Melligen returned to Las Vegas with sadness as he lost his beloved grandfather whom he held close to his heart. He said he cried so much in the funeral that he lost consciousness. He will offer this fight and his future fights to his grandpa in his honor.
