'Pinoy Pride' mega boxing event tonight: Banal, Melligen take centerstage

CEBU, Philippines – Explosive fistic action unfolds tonight as ALA Boxing Gym stars AJ "Bazooka" Banal and 'Mighty' Mark Jason Melligen slug it out with separate foes headlining the keenly-awaited "Pinoy Pride" mega fight card at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Banal, who is in hot pursuit for another crack at a world title after a foiled bid against Panamian Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion last year, is expected to face an uphill battle against former two-division world champion Luis Alberto "El Demolidor" Perez in a 10-round bantamweight showdown, while the Las Vegas-based Melligen hopes to sustain his sizzling steak when he takes on Mexican KO arist Vladimir Hernandez.

Banal is hard-pressed to make an impression as he is guaranteed bigtime fights in the United States if he gets past the dangerous Perez.

Also, the 21-year-old Banal badly needs to win as this fight is the initial offering of the 'Pinoy Pride' trilogy designed by ALA Promotions and television giant ABS-CBN to transform Cebu as the new boxing capital of the world.

"In know the importance of this fight. I can't promise anything. All I can say is that I trained and prepare hard against Perez. I will just try my best to win," said Banal, who is coming off a spectacular fifth round stoppage of Japan-based Korean Big Yoo in the record-setting "Sandugo" boxfest last July 17 in Tagbilaran City.

Banal sports a 22-1-1 win-loss-draw record dotted with 18KOs, while Perez, who hurdled his lone bout of the year by second-round TKO of Freddy Madrigal five months ago at his hometown in Nicagarua, sports a 26-4 slate spiked with 17KOs.

In the supporting main event,TOP Rank welterweight prospect Melligen (19-2, 13KOs) will go up against the power-hitting Hernandez (18-3, 16KOs) in a surefire swashbuckling showdown between two ring gladiators with jack-hammer fists.

Melligen, who had the opportunity to spar with the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. while training in Vegas, lost only once in eight fights since he campaigned in the US early last year, while Hernandez is a certified knokcout demon having stopped 16 of his 18 victims.

Hernandez, however, hasn't fought for 14 months and appeared to glassy-jawed as he lost his last two fights by short distance, the last was by knockout in round five to Canadian David Lemieux on August 28, 2009 in Canada.

The other bouts featured in the four-nation extravaganza pit Jason Pagara vs. Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat; Larry Bon Jovi Canillas vs. Ramie Laput; Jun Intor vs. Romano Gelig; Wilbeth Loberanis vs. Joel Lagusan; Ryan Canillas vs. Renjie Sabanal; and Rey Melligen vs. Billy Vullecer. (FREEMAN)