MANILA, Philippines – ALA Promotions owner Tony Aldeguer is guaranteeing fireworks in a series of year-ending cards that will feature three of his stable?s top guns ? lighflyweight Milan Melindo, bantamweight A. J. Banal and welterweight Mark Jason Melligen ? at the Waterfront Hotel ballroom in Cebu City on Oct. 30 and Nov. 27.
The series is a matchmaker?s dream as Aldeguer is bringing in two former world champions and a Mexican knockout artist to test the mettle of the ALA Gym stalwarts.
Banal battles former IBF superflyweight and bantamweight king Luis Alberto Perez of Nicaragua while Melligen faces hard-hitting Mexican warrior Bladimir Hernandez whose record is 18-3, with 16 KOs on Oct. 30. Melindo takes on former IBF lightflyweight titlist Carlos Tamara of Panama on Nov. 27.
That?s not all, said Aldeguer. Also in the Oct. 30 show dubbed ?Pinoy Power I? is teenaged lightwelterweight Jason Pagara who meets Thailand?s Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat.
Backing up the Nov. 27 bill in the undercard are OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes, former OPBF superfeatherweight, lightweight and lightwelterweight titlist Randy Suico and former IBF minimumweight ruler Florante Condes squaring off against foreign foes. In a bonus attraction, Dodie Boy Pe?alosa?s son Dodie Boy Jr. will make his second appearance as a pro after an aborted campaign in the US where he just couldn?t land a fight because opponents stayed away.
Aldeguer said Perez will be a big test for Banal.
?Fighting Perez is one way of gauging whether A. J. has really come back from that traumatic loss to Rafael Concepcion,? said Aldeguer. ?It will be a real test for him ? not to mention the fact that an impressive win for A. J. will bring him closer to an attempt at a world title.?
Banal, 21, lost steam and bowed to Concepcion, a Panamanian raging bull, on a 10th round stoppage in Cebu two years ago but has since stormed back to win five in a row, four inside the distance. Perez, 32, is fresh from a second round knockout over Freddy Madrigal but before the victory, lost three in a row. The Nicaraguan turned pro in 1996, nine years before Banal?s debut, and suffered his first setback in a decision to Filipino Vernie Torres in 2000. Perez?s record is 26-4, with 17 KOs.
Melligen?s addition to the card will mark his return after a long absence. Melligen, 24, hasn?t fought in the country since July 2008 as his last eight outings were held abroad. He has won his last three, all in Las Vegas, and 13 of his last 14, the only defeat a split 10-round decision to Mexico?s Michel Rosales last November. Melligen?s recor
