ALA boy Mark Jason Melligen will be facing a different fighter in the blockbuster “Pinoy Power 3” on Feb. 14 (RP time) at the Las Vegas Hilton as his original opponent, former world champion Mike Anchondo, suffered an ankle injury in practice.
Anchondo will be replaced by young undefeated fighter Raymond Gatica in the eight-round fight.
Despite facing a relatively inexperienced opponent compared to the veteran Anchondo, the 23-year-old Melligen isn’t taking his chances as a loss could be detrimental to his tie-up with his US promoter, Top Rank.
“He (Gatica) is an undefeated young guy, an up and coming fighter. This will be a very important fight for Mark. He knows that this is a very important fight for him because if he loses he may not be given another chance,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday.
Aldeguer learned of the change just a few days ago.
Gatica, 25, is undefeated in 11 fights and has 6 knockouts. He is also a USA Texas State welterweight champion.
“I’ve never seen Mark train this hard:he is very determined. I hope he will be able to show that he deserves bigger fights in the future,” said Aldeguer.
Melligen is currently training at the Roger Mayweather’s gym and is currently sparring with World Boxing Council junior welterweight titleholder Devon Alexander.
Melligen lost his last fight by a 10-round split decision to Mexican Michel Rosales on Nov. 13. It was also the same night that his stable mate, Z Gorres, collapsed after the fight.
Nonito Donaire Jr. is scheduled to headline this big event and will be defending his interim World Boxing Association super flyweight title.
Filipino fighters Gerry Peñalosa and Ciso Morales will also be seeing action in the same card.
The 37-year-old Peñalosa is set to face Puerto Rican Eric Morel in an eliminator, while Morales is challenging Mexican Fernando Montiel for his World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown.