Tony Martin has been around the sport of boxing for quite some time and is used to just about any curveball that could be thrown his way. Still, that didn?t stop the East London native from being both disappointed and baffled at the latest turn of events surrounding his fighter Mark Melligen.
Training for the past month at Floyd Mayweather?s personal gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, Martin and Melligen had been eyeing a much coveted July 3rd rematch with Michel Rosales, who defeated the Bacolod City native this past November in Nevada. Melligen claims to have been severely affected prior to the bout after seeing his good friend Z Gorres collapse in the ring following his win over Luiz Melendez and indicates that his split decision loss to the San Luis Potosi, Mexico fighter wasn?t a true barometer of his skills. Gorres would end up having surgery to remove swelling of the brain and while his career is now likely over Melligen still fights on for both him and his friend.
While a second tussle would have given Melligen the chance to right his wrong it looks like that contest won?t be happening anytime soon as Rosales pulled out of the bout for no apparent reason. Melligen?s replacement is West Benin, Africa?s Anges Adjaho, a very talented fighter who has had success at 130 and 135 pounds in the past.
Reacting to the news yesterday, Martin was still uncertain about how everything played out yet still seems to realize the tandem must deal with Adjaho, who is as lively and as free of a spirit as you will find in the sport. Adjaho is coming off of a 9th round TKO loss to Antonio DeMarco last July in which he built up an early lead before running out of steam late. The West African is extremely talented but it remains to be seen how he will be able to handle himself at 147 pounds.
Speaking one on one with Rafael Garcia, Mayweather?s personal cut man, Martin?s spirits were still in tact and he seemed to realize that any fight for Melligen on the 3rd is serious business. In closing Martin opened up by giving us a glimpse of what the rest of Melligen?s 2010 campaign may hold.
?Right now we have to deal with Adjaho. He?s had success at Jr. Lightweight and fought in a Lightweight eliminator. After that we might be looking at [Jesus] Soto Karass and then maybe Andre Berto.?
While a rematch with Rosales would have filled a personal void for Melligen, nobody can deny that successive bouts with Soto Karass and Berto would be more fulfilling. Soto Karass is a capable fighter who is trying to recover from a November 2009 technical loss to Alfonso Gomez and has scored wins over David Estrada and Chris Smith. Berto is the undefeated WBC Welterweight champion of the world and the Haitian-American?s strength, speed, and power would be a tremendous test for Melligen.
