| |
|
ARUM HAS HIGH HOPES FOR MELLIGEN
By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Thu, 25 Jun 2009

Top Rank big boss Bob Arum has expressed high hopes that his ward Mark Jason Melligen is going to go far in his boxing career, describing the Bacolod-raised junior welterweight as a "terrific fighter."
Las Vegas-based trainer/cutman Tony Martin, in an interview with this writer, said that the Harvard-educated lawyer Arum likes what he saw in Melligen over the weekend, where he easily stopped Mexican Fabian Luque in two rounds, "and wants to see him again fight on August 15."
Melligen (15-1, 11 KO's), a former amateur boxing standout before he turned pro, has been included by Top Rank to see action in a card to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas against a soon-to-be-named foe.
The card will be headlined by Nonito Donaire Jr going up in weight to fight Hugo Cazares for the vacant WBA interim superflyweight title. The co-headline features WBO featherweight king Steven Luevano defending against Filipino Bernabe Concepcion.
The win over Luque was actually Melligen's third since hooking up with Tony Martin in Las Vegas. Early this year, he stopped Gerardo Prieto in Colorado, and followed it up with a decision win over former David Diaz challenger Ramon Montano.
Melligen is set to arrive in the country tomorrow, take a much-needed rest before flying back to Las Vegas to resume training.
Top photo: Top Rank big boss Bob Arum and his newest ward Mark Jason Melligen strike a pose in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title , Sun, 15 Mar 2026WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory , Sun, 15 Mar 2026John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS) , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six , Sun, 15 Mar 2026Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS) , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28 , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29 , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT , Fri, 13 Mar 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|