MANILA (PNA) -Nineteen-year old boxer Mark Jason Mellligen, silver medalist in the recent Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) will make his professional boxing debut on April 30. Melligen will face against fellow debutant Rolan Malunhao in what is dubbed as “Carpark Bo-xing at Island City Mall” in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The bout is lined-up as one of the undercards of the double main event featuring RP No.1 fly-weight contender Robert Allanic against Thailand’s Saensak Singmanassak, and fast rising Alex John Banal opposite Bansaen Sithpraprom, another Thai fighter.
Reached for comment, Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain said he was elated to hear that Melligen is turning pro.
“We want that, just like in other countries such as the United States, many amateurs are turning pro after reaching the peak of their amateur careers like (Oscar) Dela Hoya, (Floyd) Mayweather), and many more. That’s why we are looking forward to work with ABAP (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines) to have this achieved,” said Buhain.
Melligen has an out-standing amateur career, having represented and won medals for the country in various international boxing events.
The young Melligen lost in the finals during the 23rd SEA Games against Non Boojumnong of Thai-land.
Melligen and Malun-hao will be fighting in the light flyweight class in this event organized by SGG Sports Promotion.
Buhain, however, clarified that GAB is not trying to invade the ama-teur boxing of their talents, saying, “We can have a system regarding that.”
“If the likes of (Man-ny) Pacquiao and most of our champions now, who only have a brief amateur career or none at all, are shining, what more a vete-ran amateur can,” he ex-plained.
ABAP president Man-ny Lopez, though dishear-tened in losing one of his top wards, nevertheless wished Melligen luck.
“We can do nothing if he (Melligen) wants to turn pro. Perhaps he thought he would have green pasture in the professional level. I just wish him good luck,” said Lopez.
