By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The stunning loss of world rated welterweight Mark Jason Melligen who suffered a 9th round knockout loss to hard-hitting Argentine fighter Sebastian Lujan in San Antonio, Texas last Saturday, Manila Time, has been attributed to Melligen’s lack of discipline.

Melligen’s trainer in Las Vegas, Tony Martin told the Daily Inquirer that he “feels no anger towards Mark, just disappointment that someone with so much talent has just thrown away the opportunity of a life time to be some one. Because of his lack of discipline, self motivation and foolish actions. He has dug his own grave.”

The loss has effectively ruined Melligen’s chances with Top Rank who gave the fighter one last chance following a lackluster performance in a ten round loss to Mexico’s Michel Rosales in 2009 in Las Vegas. Melligen redeemed himself with a good win in his next fight but this time Martin believes “for sure Top Rank will no longer have any interest in him, and I do not blame them. As for Tony and Ala Promotions, concerning Marks future, that decision will be in their hands.”

The longtime Cebu resident who trains Melligen at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas was clearly hurt when he noted, “to think that over the last three years of all the hard work we as a team have gone through to better Melligens career. He has not only let himself down, but all those around him who believed in him.”

Martin stressed that the Melligen loss “will not affect my relationship with Tony, Michael and ALA PROMOTIONS as I will still be there for them, helping in any way I can, and training any of the Ala boys who may come to Vegas.“

The likeable trainer who is now based in Las Vegas posed the question, “Why is it Ronnie, that some people with in born talent have the tendency to self destruct?”

Boxing writer John Whisler of mysanantonio.com said that in the end, Sebastian Lujan was “just a little too strong, too experienced and perhaps too talented for Mark Melligen.”

Whisler quoted Lujan who said Melligen “probably was overconfident. I think my power may have surprised him."

Lujan (38-5-2, 24 KOs) overcame a slow start to win for the 12th straight time dating back to 2007. He knocked Melligen (21-3, 14 KOs) down in the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth rounds – each time with an overhand right.

By the sixth, Lujan said, his punches started taking their toll, slowing Melligen down and taking his legs. Whisler said the final knockdown, however, appeared to be as much the result of exhaustion as anything. Both fighters were perspiring profusely in the high-action fight, with sweat flying out of the ring and into the front couple of rows with every punch.

Melligen out-boxed Lujan in the first three rounds as shown by the scorecards of all three judges - Rick Crocker, Ruben Garcia and Joel Elizondo scored the first three rounds for Melligen who is ranked No. 16 in the WBC coming in and considered the favorite.