Mark Jason Melligen Takes Out Fabian Luque in Two
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine light welterweight champion Mark Jason Melligen continued his winning streak since fighting abroad with an impressive 2nd round TKO over 31 year old Fabian “El Lobo” Luque who had a record of 21-8-4 with 12 knockouts in Ensenanda, Baja California,Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time.
Melligen fought on the Zanfer Promotions card where hometown favorite Joksan Hernandez (15-1, 9 KO’s) scored a twelve round decision over world-ranked super featherweight and a former victim of Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao, Hector Velasquez (51-12-2, 35 KO’s) in a WBC Continental Americas super featherweight title bout.
ALA Gym trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor who worked the corner of Melligen along with longtime Cebu resident Tony Martin who has been handling Melligen’s training at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas reported that Melligen dropped his Mexican opponent in the opening round and then again in the second, forcing the referee to call a halt to the lopsided fight dominated by the Filipino southpaw.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who signed up Melligen earlier told us he was impressed with the light welterweight southpaw who looked completely relaxed and confident going into the fight.
ALA Gym patron Tony Aldeguer said Melligen will return on June 25 and after a short break resume training before leaving for the US on July 8 for a scheduled fight on July 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino events center in Las Vegas.
Although Luque had lost his last two fights they were against top-class, undefeated opponents including WBA No.1 ranked Dimitriy Salita who has a record of 30-0-1 with 16 knockouts. Luque lost to Salita by a 5th round TKO on February 28, 2008 and then lost by a 2nd round TKO to undefeated Dierry Jean of Canada who has a record of 16-0 with 10 knockouts and is considered one of Canada’s best prospects. That fight took place on October 4, 2008.
The 23 year old southpaw Melligen improved his record to 15-1 with 11knockouts. Melligen had previously trained at the Mayweather gym in Las Vegas where Floyd Mayweather Jr had watched him train and was quite impressed.
Melligen made his US debut with a 5th round TKO over Gerardo Cesar Prieto on March 7, 2009 and followed it up with a unanimous eight round decision over tough Ramon Montano who had earlier dropped a split decision to then WBC lightweight champion David Diaz who in turn lost his title in a 9th round demolition by the “Hero of Asia” Manny Pacquiao.
In preparation for the Luque fight, Melligen sparred with Argentina’s Marcos Rene Maidana (25-1, 24KO’s) who is scheduled to face undefeated Victor Ortiz for the WBA junior welterweight interim title on June 27.