Melligen hopes to pass Hernandez's test; Arum to line up bigger fights

Mark Jason Melligen has complained of jetlag since arriving from Las Vegas Sunday evening after a more than 15-hour long flight from Cebu City.

But that is the only problem that Melligen (21-2, 14 knockouts) had encountered at his training camp as he enters the final two weeks of the biggest test of his five-year professional career. The 25-year-old welterweight prospect will face Freddy Hernandez of Mexico on July 1 at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas in a 10-round clash that will headline an ESPN 2 Friday Nights Fights card. The non-title bout against the former world title challenger Hernandez (29-2, 20 KOs) is the first time that the southpaw from Bacolod City will be appearing in a nationally televised event in America. Melligen is in the final phase of his training camp at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas under the guidance of former long-time Cebu resident Tony Martin Hernandez, 32, scored KO wins against faded champions Mike Anchondo and DeMarcus Corley, but also suffered a first-round knockdown against World Boxing Council (WBC) 147-lb king Andre Berto in November last year. "I've see him (Hernandez) fight before," said Melligen, who defeated 27-1 fighter Gabriel Martinez in February. "He's a talented boxer. He's strong, powerful and tall." Big opportunity for Melligen The fight against Hernandez could also be Melligen's best chance to carve his name in the United States since the bout will be shown live on one of the most watched boxing programs in America. The typically cautious Melligen said he will try to make the most of the opportunity to make an impression with the fans. "This was one of (Melligen's) setbacks early on, that he was just throwing the jab and left hand," said Martin, who is Melligen's chief trainer. "We know he has the potential to do really good. He is becoming better and better, though." "I keep telling him it's important for him to throw more combos and finish his opponents off. You have to make people look up and say 'Wow, he has power,'" Martin added. Arum plans bigger fights for Melligen Both Melligen and Martin believe that an entertaining win will lead to a big fight, and Top Rank boss Bob Arum agrees. "It's a very important fight because it’s on national TV so a lot of people will be watching that fight," said Arum, who also promotes Manny Pacquiao. "He's fighting a Mexican who has a very good record. All eyes will be on Mark if he wins that fight." Arum said, should Melligen win the fight on July 1, he could match the Los Angeles-based fighter with fellow Top Rank-promoted fighters Kermit Cintron of Puerto Rico or American Mike Jones later this year. Cintron is a hard-punching former welterweight titlist who has faced the best of the division including Antonio Margarito and Sergio Martinez, while Jones is a rising contender who fought on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao's fight with Margarito last Fall. "We think that [beating Hernandez] would be the impetus to move him up to fight the top level," said Arum. Out to make a statement While Arum cautions that "there’s only one Manny Pacquiao," he applauds Melligen, saying "he comes to fight" and "I think he’s very entertaining." Melligen says he will come to make a statement with Hernandez, but isn't going to forget the style that has gotten him to this point. "Every time I fight before, I don’t knock my opponent like that," said Melligen. "I'm gonna show everyone who the real Mark is." "Sometimes I think for a knockout like that, but I’m gonna wait because I'm a pure boxer. I'm always boxing, but I'm always going to wait for the knockout. I think I will pressure this fight, but I'm gonna fight smart." – JVP, GMA News Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News and the Filipino Reporter newspaper in New York City. He can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com. An archive of his work can be found at www.ryansongalia.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ryansongalia.