Defending Philippine Super Lightweight champion Mark Jason Melligen of Bacolod City yesterday said he has a single task  – to knock down contender Cris Alag of Cagayan de Oro City in the sixth or seventh round in their 12-round duel dubbed “Fists on Fire,”  at the West Negros University Gym at 6 p.m. today.

Alag, though, took the challenge and said he will prove his mettle as Philippine Boxing Federation king when he takes the canvas against the southpaw Melligen, the country’s top Junior Welterweight pugilist in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Federation, in the 140-lb category.

Bankrolled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board through Bacoleño Commissioner and boxing patron Juan Ramon “Monju” Guanzon, the Melligen-Alag mainer will feature eight other equally “electrifying” preliminary bouts.

With a 12-1 win-loss record, 9 by way of knockout, to his name, Melligen yesterday exuded confidence to prey on Alag, sporting a 6-7 and 2 KOs card, in his two-year title defense campaign.     

“I won’t speak too much; I’ll just let him (Alag) feel the quality of my punches,” Melligen, of the Antonio Lopez Aldeguez stable said in the dialect.

“He’d better be careful,” the 22-year-old Melligen further warned the title contender, 26, at yesterday’s official weigh-in and press briefing at the Bacolod Casino Filipino Hotel.

To spice up the main event are the ring assignments between Mark Gil Melligen (Bacolod City) and Rommel Libradilla (Butuan City) in the 119 lbs scheduled for 10 rounds; Reman Salim (Bacolod) – Ruben Santillanosa (Sultan Kudarat), 126 lbs., 8 rounds; Merlito Sabillo (Bacolod) – Edcel Tunacao (Mandaue City), 106 lbs., 6 rounds; Keeward Miñosa (Bacolod) – Saddam Barambangan (Agusan del Sur), 105 lbs., 4 rounds; Jake Servania (Bacolod) – Leo Torres (Eastern Samar), 105 lbs, 4 rounds; Nelson Arellano (Bacolod) – Loloy de la Peña (Lapu-Lapu City), 112 lbs., 4 rounds; Leonard Guardiano (Bacolod) – Eman Labanza (Tagbilaran City), 122 lbs., 4 rounds; and Razem Laud (Bacolod) – Aljerd Tunacao (Mandaue City), 115 lbs., 4 rounds.

Guanzon said after tonight’s exchange of blows at the WNU, Negrenses and Bacoleños will again be treated to world-class boxing matches on September 27 and November 29 this year, at the PAGCOR Bacolod Hotel Amphitheater.

Supporting the boxing endeavors is the MMJ AdMark Promotions and Services represented yesterday by Jess Primavera.*GCT

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