Bacolod boxer fights for RP title July 12

BALOCOD CITY, Philippines - Negrense professional boxer Mark Jason Melligen of Barangay Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, is set to fight for the retention of his RP junior welterweight crown before hometown fans on Saturday, 7 p.m., at the West Negros University Gym, said Games and Amusement Board (GAB) commissioner Juan Ramon "Monju" Guanzon. Melligen, a former stalwart of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association (Naba) headed by Guanzon, is now a pro boxer being handled by Antonio “Bidoy" Aldeguer of the famous ALA Gym and stable in Cebu City. Melligen pocketed a silver medal in Bacolod City during the 2005 23rd Southeast Asian Games boxing competitions at the University of St. La Salle Gym. He will be defending his RP junior welter crown against challenger Chris Alag. Including the Melligen-Alag main bout, Negrense boxing fans will be treated to a total of 56 rounds of professional boxing where the protagonists will be all Bacoleños against opponents from other parts of the country, Guanzon said. Also featured among the fighters in the under-card are Melligen's younger brother Mark Gil, who successfully fought against a visiting opponent during the last pro boxing card, staged at the Casino Filipino Bacolod and promoted by the Bugal sang Bacolodnon Boxing Promotions. "I wish to urge all Negrense boxing fans to come out and support our very own homegrown boxers by coming out to watch this card since this is one way of boosting their pro careers," Guanzon said. - Sun.Star Bacolod