Melligen battles Adjaho in Las Vegas today

CEBU, Philippines - ALA Boxing Gym welterweight prospect Mark Jason Melligen hopes to take another step higher in his quest for international recognition as he squares off against last minute replacement Anges Adjaho of Africa in the main event of a joint fight card put up by Top Rank and Let’s Get It On Promotions this morning (RP time) at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada.

The 24-year-old Melligen was originally set for a rematch with Michel Rosales, who beat him by split decision in their November 13 bout last year in Las Vegas, but the Mexican champion suddenly pulled out of the match with no clear reason.

Statistics wise, Melligen and Adjaho sat on a level playing field. The Bacolod City-native ring gladiator sports a menacing 18-2 win-loss record spiked with 13KOs, while Adjaho parades a 25-2 slate dotted with 14KOs.

Aside from being six years younger than his opponent, a thing of advantage for Melligen is that he has fought four times in the US since Adjaho last climb up the ring.

Melligen’s main concern though is that Adjaho is bigger and taller than him.

But Melligen’s trainer Tony Martin doesn’t think that these factors will sway in favor of Adjaho.

“Is that what he thinks?” reacted Tony Martin at Adjaho’s claims of being bigger in a report by www.gmanews.tv. “It doesn’t matter what he thinks, we’re not concerned with this guy. He’s been out of the ring for a year and he’s always fought at lightweight. He’s fought a couple of good opponents, but we’re not concerned,” Martin added in the same internet report. (FREEMAN NEWS)