Melligen, Fuentes vow to KO foes

CEBU, Philippines - ALA Boxing Gym stalwarts Mark Gil Melligen and Rocky Fuentes both promised to knock out their respective foes in the main feature of the “Fight Night Boxing Tour” co-presented by Summit Natural Drinking Water and ALA Promotions starting at 7:00 this evening at the Mandaue City Plaza Square.

The Bacolod City-native Melligen (9-3-1, 3KOs) faces an uphill climb when he goes up against former WBC International bantamweight champion Roger Galicia (23-9-4, 7KOs) of the Mandaluyong-based Tiger City Gym, while the power-hitting Fuentes (23-6-2, 13KOs) will slug it out with Allan Ranada (7-20-1, 6KOs) of Bohol’s Dr. Cagulada Stable.

“I’ll try my best to knock him (Galicia) out within six rounds,” said Melligen. Fuentes, for his part, predicts that Ranada won’t get past five rounds against him.

 Melligen and Fuentes are impressive in their previous fights. Melligen scored a smashing second round stoppage of Rommel Libradilla on July 12 last year at the West Negros University Gym, while Fuentes hammered out a lopsided unanimous decision victory over Eric Rapada to retain his Philippine flyweight title last March 21 at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center (Nompac) in Bacolod.

In a special attraction, Jun Intor Intor of Mabinay, Negros Oriental will clash with Roldan Malinao of Butuan City in a four-rounder match under the super bantamweight division.

The rest of the bouts pit Marjhun Macahilig of Kalibo, Aklan vs. Michael Espinosa of Bacolod, Leo Torres of Eastern Samar vs. Powell Balaba of Tagbilaran, Jomar Cordinillo of Tagbilaran vs. JR Salvador of Mandaue’s Phil-Aust Gym, and Melchor Abcede of Tagbilaran vs. Jherpol Valero of Phil-Aust Gym.

Meanwhile, ALA Promotions Vice President Dennis Cañete and Summit Drinking Water Senior Brand Manager Henry Simon jointly announced their renewed partnership for two more years in a press conference yesterday at Sugbahan Restaurant.

“We are really looking forward to a long-term partnership with ALA Promotions,” said Simon. “This is part of our vision to help develop the talents of our aspiring boxers up to the grassroots level,” he added.

The Summit Fight Night Boxing Tour, which will run until October 2010, will also have stops in several key cities of the Vis-Min region such as Tagbilaran, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Bacolod, Davao, and Iloilo. — EBV (THE FREEMAN)