BOOK REVIEW: Legendary British fight figure Mickey Duff called him: “The most outstanding boxer from this county never to have fought for the world title.” Former flyweight champion Charlie Magri said of him: “He was fantastic. He should have earned a fortune.” Terry Lawless, London manager of world champions John H. Stracey, Maurice Hope and Magri, reflected: “He’s probably the most gifted boxer I have ever managed, different to everyone else. I’ve never seen people do things like him.”
Born in England in 1942. Life as a boxing writer began with a weekly column in a newspaper called the South London Advertiser in the early 1960s. Moved to the far bigger-circulation South London Press, writing a twice-weekly boxing section, in 1966. Joined the weekly Boxing News in 1970 and became editor in 1972. Moved across the pond in 1977 for marriage-related reasons and covered the American scene for Boxing News until joining Boxing Monthly in 1990.
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ROSALES (left) weighed 147; MELLIGEN 146 1/2. / Photo: CHRIS FARINA, Top Rank
Location:
Mandalay Bay casino resort, LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13
Graham's Odds:
Melligen -165; Rosales +125
Over 9.5 -160; under 8.5 +140
No
No
Mandalay Bay casino resort, LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13
ROSALES (left) weighed 147; MELLIGEN 146 1/2. / Photo: CHRIS FARINA, Top Rank
Melligen -165; Rosales +125
Over 9.5 -160; under 8.5 +140
With Manny Pacquaio starring in the year’s biggest fight on Saturday it is appropriate that Filipino fighters are featured on Top Rank’s night-before show in Las Vegas (TV coverage on Azteca America).
Three Filipino fighters are on the bill, and I particularly like the look of the welterweight bout between southpaw Mark Melligen and the crowd-pleasing Mexican fighter Michel Rosales.
Melligen lost by knockout in Korea almost three years ago but he has won his last 10 fights, the last four of which have been in the U.S.
I was at ringside for Melligen’s fight with Ramon Montano in Las Vegas on May 1 and was impressed with his movement and sharp counter punching. Montano was game and willing but he couldn’t get into the fight and at one point showed his frustration by gesturing to Melligen to stand still and trade punches, but the Filipino boxer wouldn't oblige him and boxed his way to a comfortable win. Melligen was later seen on the Pinoy Power PPV show in August when he beat up the faded Ernesto Zepeda in four rounds.
Rosales is a real test for Melligen and might even be the toughest opponent he has faced. Although Rosales was stopped in seven rounds by the unbeaten Mike Alvarado 19 months ago I believe he might have been weight-drained at 140 pounds. Rosales moved up to welterweight after the fight and has won four of his last five bouts, losing by stoppage in 10 rounds against the undefeated and very promising Saul Alvarez.
In his last fight, Rosales maintained constant pressure to win on points against an unbeaten fighter named Luis Uribe, so he is coming into Friday’s fight on a high note.
Rosales’s forward-moving, busy-punching style against Melligen’s smart boxing and crisp countering should make for a highly pleasing contest. Rosales is hittable but his attack tends to be his best defence as he seeks to back up his opponents and swarm over them.
Melligen, 23, is the favourite but this isn’t one of those showcase fights — Rosales will be coming to win and he is no stranger to long, hard fights.
If Melligen is to continue his upward progression, these are the type of fights he has to win. I am expecting Melligen to get past Rosales, probably on points, but I don’t think it will be easy.
