RP pugs show ware in Vegas tonight

MANILA, Philippines - WBO No. 3 bantamweight Z Gorres and WBA No. 15 lightwelterweight Mark Jason Melligen start the ball rolling for the Philippines in an exciting weekend of boxing in Las Vegas by taking on separate opponents in crucial crossroads fights at the House of Blues in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila).

The culmination is the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena tomorrow night (Sunday morning, Manila).

Both Gorres and Melligen belong to the ALA stable of Cebu businessman Tony Aldeguer who said yesterday their chances to fight for a world crown, possibly next year, hinge on a convincing win at the House of Blues.

Gorres, 27, takes on Colombian southpaw Luis Melendez, 29, while Melligen, 23, battles Mexican knockout artist Michel Rosales, 26, in a pair of tenners. The fights won’t be picnics for the Filipinos. Melendez has a 26-3-1 record, with 21 KOs, and is coming off a third round disposal of Rafael Salgado. Rosales’ record is 24-3, with 21 KOs, and is fresh from claiming the vacant WBC Fecombox lightmiddleweight crown via a majority decision over Luis Uribe.

Gorres is closer to a world title shot than Melligen and Aldeguer said a win over Melendez will pave the way for a rematch against WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel at the Las Vegas Hilton on Feb. 13.

Top Rank is putting together a blockbuster “Pinoy Power” card on Feb. 13 with Nonito Donaire defending his interim WBA superflyweight crown and Gerry Peñalosa facing Eric Morel in a WBO bantamweight title eliminator. If Gorres beats Melendez, he’ll be on the card to battle Montiel for the WBO 118-pound diadem.

“Gorres is taking on a very dangerous opponent,” said Aldeguer. “Melendez is the same fighter who gave Montiel a big scare when he dropped Montiel in the fourth round but ultimately lost by TKO in the 12th.”

Aldeguer described Gorres as “my most experienced boxer who has fought the best in his division.” The 5-4 southpaw is unbeaten in his last five outings, including a draw with Australian Vic Darchinyan whom he floored in the second round. Gorres hasn’t lost since yielding a split 12-round decision to Montiel in Cebu two years ago. Last September, he flew to Nayarit, Mexico, to beat Cruz Carbajal who surrendered in the sixth round with a dislocated arm.

“I believe Gorres, who started boxing at the age of nine and was a three-time national youth champion, could have probably been a potential Olympic medalist if he elected to stay amateur instead of turning pro,” said Aldeguer.

“If you recall, Rudy Salud and I co-managed Gorres and I wish for all to know that Rudy was very instrumental in giving Gorres his first fight abroad in Seoul where he stopped Yoo Chul Yuh and also at the MGM Grand Garden Arena where he stopped Glenn Donaire in the first round. Gorres would not be where he is now if not partly for what Rudy did to his boxing career. Both Gorres and I know this and we want to give credit where it is due.”

Gorres has compiled a 30-2-2 record, with 17 KOs, since turning pro in 2001. He has figured in six overseas fights so far, four in the US, and won them all, including an eighth round knockout over former WBC lightflyweight champion Eric Ortiz.

Melligen, who has a promotional contract with Top Rank like Gorres, will be severely tested by Rosales who at 5-11, stands four inches taller. They were initially scheduled to meet last August but Rosales failed to keep the appointment because of visa problems. Rosales was replaced by Ernesto Zepeda who capitulated in four rounds.

Now Rosales has his US visa and is raring to meet Melligen, unbeaten in his last 10 fights, seven by KO. The Filipino has lost only once in six overseas fights, three in the US and one each in Australia, Korea and Mexico. Since turning pro in 2006, Melligen has racked up a record of 16-1, with 12 KOs. His only loss was a seventh round knockout to Yong Sung Kim in Seoul in 2007.

While Gorres trains with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Melligen works out at Roger Mayweather’s sweatshop in Las Vegas with chief trainer Tony Martin and Edmund Villamor.