Melligen toughens with high altitude training

WELTER-WEIGHT prospect Mark Melligen didn’t mind the long travel to the Summer Capital as he gears up for an upcoming bout slated Sept. 21 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City facing a tough Thailander.

Melligen, who owns a record of 22 wins including 17 knock-outs and three losses, squares off against Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat, who has an impressive record of 28 wins with 18 of them coming by knock-out and 10 losses.

“Sa ngayon kinkuha pa namin yung kanyang hangin kaya kami umakyat ng Baguio para sa high altitude training pero ganun pa rin yung work-out namin,” said coach Danny Lorona Bactol where his ward and his sparring partner are being camped at Shape Up Boxing Gym.

With their Baguio training, WBO Asia Pacific lightweight champion Rey Labao will also be in hand to spar with Melligen, who once studied here in Baguio City.

Bactol said since Melligen is coming off a first round knock-out win against Dondon Lapuz in July, sparring will just have to be light as they close out their training camp later this week with the boxer lodging 70 rounds.

The 26 year old Bacolod City native will be in the undercard of Filipino flyweight Froilan Saludar squaring off against Mexican champion Jose Alfredo Tirado who was supposed to fight Rodel Mayol earlier slated also on the same date here in Baguio City.

But Mayol opted to fight in Mexico for a bigger fight purse. Boxing promoter Anson Tiu Co said since Tirado has already arrived in the country he might as well arrange a bout against the Mexican fighter.

Aside from the Saludar –Tirado encounter and the Melligen- Sakaorat square-off, super flyweight Jerwin Ancajas and Miguel Tamayo will also face off in the event backed by Tobi Peanut Butter, Cherry Lum, Sumo, Omico Corp., Shape-Up Boxing Gym, and Cooyeesan Hotel.

Also in the undercard are Shape-Up’s flyweight Macrea Gandionco against Arnold Garde with bantamweight Larry Abarra versus Danilo Gabisay, both six rounders and super bantamweight Jonathan Dela Cruz who will debut against Dominador Mantes in four rounds.

“Malapit na ang laban at maganda yung kondisyun nila, kumpyansa tayo na ibibigay nila yung kakayahan nila,” said Tiu Co.