Photos and Text by Chris Robinson
In a few weeks' time Mark Melligen will look to issue a statement to the welterweight class when he steps into the ring with former title challenger Freddy Hernandez. Facing off with the Mexico City native on July 1st in San Antonio, Texas, Melligen very well could be in a fight and will need to come into the ring accordingly against the capable Hernandez.
Melligen had been training in the Philippines in the city of Cebu prior to the signing of the fight and has recently stepped up his training for the contest after embarking on another trek to the United States. Melligen hit Las Vegas on Sunday night and has been spending this week training out of Floyd Mayweather's personal gym just a few miles from the strip.
While it's true that Hernandez was dusted in less than three minutes in his last contest, a shot at then-WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto at the MGM Grand, he is still a risky challenge for Melligen. Hernandez can punch and holds victories of former champion DeMarcus 'Chop Chop' Corley, Cuba's Damian Frias, and former titleholder Mike Anchondo, amongst others.
Melligen is riding a five-fight winning streak since his shock loss to Michael Rosales in November of 2009 and has showed a bit of versatility in handling the likes of Norberto Gonzalez, Anges Adjaho, and most recently Gabriel Hernandez on the undercard of Nonito Donaire's two-round destruction of Fernando Montiel. At 25 years old Melligen seems to be coming into his own and an impressive victory over Hernandez could put him in line for a big fight later in the year.
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