The future of world rated bantamweight AJ “Bazooka” Banal and welterweight Mark Jason Melligen hinges on the outcome of their fights in the “Pinoy Pride” fight card at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu tomorrow.
Southpaw Banal (21-1-1 with 17 KOs), faces the toughest test of his career when he battles former IBF super flyweight and bantamweight champion Luis Alberto Perez in the top 10-round bout.
Melligen (19-2, 13 KOs) trades blows over 10 rounds with knockout artist Bladimir Hernandez of Mexico, who has 16 KOs in 18 wins in a 21-fight career.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum, in a meeting with ALA Promotions head Michael Aldeguer last Saturday, said he wanted to support the Aldeguer stable of fighters, and Banal and Melligen need to win impressively for the project to take off.