Pinoy Power 3: Filipinos score 3 out of 5

WBA interim superflyweight champ Nonito 'The Filipino Flash' Donaire (22W-1L, 11KO’s) knocked out challenger Manuel Vargas of Mexico in the 3rd round.
Donaire landed power shots with ease. A sharp left uppercut in the third round sent Vargas to the canvas and he stayed flat on his back for the full ten count. Official time: 1:33 of the third round.


The Mexican known as “Chango” gave up too much in height and reach. Vargas (26W-4L-1D, 11KO’s) last fought at 105 lbs. and lost a split decision to WBO minimumweight champ Donnie "Ahas" Nietes in a fight held last September in Nayarit, Mexico

Vargas was a late substitute for Gerson Guerrero, who was found to have a tear in his right eye retina during the pre-fight medical examination and was not allowed to fight.
WBO bantamweight champ Fernando Montiel (40W-2L-2D, 30 KO’s) of Mexico scored a first round knockout over Ciso Morales using a vicious left hook to the body. Official time: 2:06 of 1st.

This was only Morales’ 15th pro fight and his first career loss.

Former two time world champ Gerry Penalosa (54-8-2, 36 KOs) lost to former WBA world flyweight champ Eric “Hands of Steel” Morel (42-2, 21 KOs) in a bantamweight eliminator and the WBO interim belt. The 37 year old Penalosa had trouble catching the taller and fast moving Morel early in the fight.

Penalosa went to the body but suffered a swelling under his left eye. Penalosa found his range and started to rally in the 6th. Two headbutts opened cuts on Gerry’s face in the 7th. But Penalosa continued his rally and landed the cleaner punches.

From the ninth round onwards Morel was getting pummelled and retreating but still managed to win. The scores – 115-113 and 116-112 for Morel and 115-113 for Penalosa.

Bernabe “The Real Deal” Concepcion ( 28W (14 KO’s) – 3 L- 1 D) scored an impressive unanimous decision win over Puerto Rican Mario Santiago (21W (14KO’s) -2L-1D).

Concepcion used good lateral movement and textbook weapons against a southpaw – right hand lead and left hook. A well timed right sent Santiago crashing to the canvas in round 6.

Concepcion went on cruise control but Santiago tried to stage a late rally in the 10th and final round with low blows and tried to pin the Filipino on the ropes.The score cards read: 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93.

Concepcion has been promised another title shot against WBO featherweight champ Juan Manuel Lopez. Concepcion lost by disqualification against Steven Luevano last August in his first title shot. Luevano has since been dethroned by Lopez.

Mark Jason Melligen of the ALA Gym won by 6th round TKO over Raymond Gatica (11W (6KO’s) -1L -0) of the U.S. and handed him his first career loss. Melligen is now 17 wins with 13 KO's and 2 losses.
This fight card was held at the Las Vegas Hilton. Watching the fights and providing inspiration were Z “The Dream” Gorres and world’s best boxer Manny Pacquiao.

Source: Rene Bonsubre  | PhilBoxing

Melligen wins by KO

Mark Melligen of Philippines

The Hilton Hotel is starting to fill up with rabid fans for tonight's Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 card and the undercard has been rolling along.

In a battle of southpaws, Bacolod City’s Mark Melligen overcame a sluggish early start to eventually stop previously undefeated Raymond Gatica in the sixth. It was a victory that showcased Melligen’s patience as well as his power.

In the early rounds the contest was give and take as Gatica used his apparent height and reach advantagea to have success despite Melligen’s persistence. Despite the contest being tit for tat, Melligen swept the first three rounds on the judges’ cards.

In the fourth Melligen began to take over the contest, landing his left hand much more frequently. The 23-year old scored a knockdown in the fifth round of a crushing left hand and Gatica looked to be in trouble. A follow up knockdown one round later signaled the end as referee Kenny Bayless waived the contest off at 2:36 of the round.

With the win Melligen moves to 17-2 with 13 knockouts. Melligen was coming off of a split decision loss to Michael Rosales this past November in Las Vegas on the eve of Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Miguel Cotto. The Welterweight hopeful should be having a busy 2010 campaign and tonight was certainly a good start.

Source: Chris Robinson  | Examiner.com

Pinoy pugs go for broke

Pinoy Power 3/ Latin Fury 13 fighters

MANILA, Philippines - Five Filipino fighters take on dangerous opponents in crossroads bouts at the Las Vegas Hilton this morning (Manila time) with the rewards far outweighing the risks if they pull off convincing wins.

But it won’t be easy for Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Peñalosa, Ciso Morales, Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen who are seeing action in a blockbuster card billed “Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3” staged by Top Rank.

Donaire, 27, stakes his interim WBA superflyweight crown against Mexico’s Manuel (Chango) Vargas, a late replacement for original challenger Gerson Guerrero who was scratched with a detached retina in the right eye last Wednesday.

“I’ve always been prepared to fight anybody,” Donaire told espn.com. “I can adapt to any changes. I am ready for anybody. Whomever they put in, so be it. As long as I get to fight, I’m happy.”

Donaire offered to move up the limit to 118 pounds to accommodate a bigger opponent until Vargas was picked over former WBO superflyweight titlist Jose (Carita) Lopez and Hugo Ruiz. Vargas, 28, has a 26-4-1 record, with 11 KOs, and is coming off a loss by split decision to Filipino Donnie Nietes in a bid for the WBO minimumweight crown last September. The Mexican got the nod to tangle with Donaire because he was in shape for another bout this weekend.


Donaire is in line to battle WBA and WBC unified superflyweight titlist Vic Darchinyan in a rematch or newly crowned WBO champion Jorge Arce so he can’t afford to lose to Vargas. He’s just a win away from sealing a crack for a second world crown.

In Donaire’s corner for the bout will be former IBF superfeatherweight titleholder Robert Garcia, Jonathan Peñalosa and conditioning coach Mike Bazzel of the Undisputed Gym.

Peñalosa, 37, vowed to go all out for a knockout against former WBA flyweight and IBA superflyweight champion Eric (Little Hands of Steel) Morel of Puerto Rico in a 12-round duel for the interim WBO bantamweight diadem. He said losing isn’t an option.

Morel, 34, has won six in a row since coming back from a two-year prison stay for sexually assaulting an unconscious 15-year-old girl in an apartment. Known as a defensive stylist, Morel will use his 2 1/2-inch height advantage and a glaring five-inch edge in reach to frustrate Peñalosa. The 1996 Olympian said he is dedicating the fight to his fiancée Francisca Padilla and his two daughters Janessa, 13, and Jalyssa, 7, who kept the faith throughout his imprisonment.

Brushing aside talk of retirement, Peñalosa said after disposing of Morel, he will challenge WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel who defends the 118-pound belt against the Bohol-born Morales on the same card. But that depends on whether Montiel repulses Morales.

Montiel, 30, is a former WBO flyweight and two-time superflyweight titlist who looked shaky in escaping with a technical decision over Alejandro Valdez last September. The Mexican was supposed to face Z Gorres in a rematch but with the Filipino recovering from brain surgery, he chose to meet Morales instead of experienced warrior Michael Domingo. In 2007, Montiel scored a split 12-round decision over Gorres to retain the WBO 115-pound title in Cebu City. Gorres will be at ringside to watch the card as Donaire’s special guest. He is set to fly back to Cebu on Tuesday with wife Daches after surviving his ordeal.

Morales, 22, has a 14-0 record, with eight KOs, compared to Montiel’s 39-2-2, with 29 KOs. Youth will be on his side but unless he overpowers Montiel, Morales may not be able to outbox the slick Mexican who is tipped to win on points. In Morales’ corner will be Donaire’s father Dodong.

Concepcion, 22, will square off against Puerto Rican southpaw Mario Santiago in a featherweight showdown. The Virac, Catanduanes, contender is determined to earn another world title shot after blowing his chance in a loss to then WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano on a seventh round disqualification in Las Vegas last August.

What could stymie Concepcion is Santiago’s five-inch reach advantage. Santiago, 31, held Luevano to a split draw in their own title bout in 2008 and is as ready as Concepcion to win. His only defeat was a technical decision to one-time Manny Pacquiao victim Hector Velazquez. Santiago, 31, boasts a 21-1-1 record, with 14 KOs, while Concepcion’s mark is 27-3-1, with 15 KOs.

Melligen, 23, is booked against Texan Raymond Gatica in an eight-rounder. The Bacolod City welterweight hopes to bounce back from a split decision loss to Mexico’s Michel Rosales in Las Vegas last November. Before the defeat, Melligen had won 10 straight, seven by KO. It will be his sixth US outing.

Gatica, 25, is unbeaten with an 11-0 record, including six KOs, compared to Melligen’s 16-2, with 12 KOs. He ended a 17-month layoff to halt Julio Perez in the fourth round last December.

“Melligen is in a must-win situation,” said ALA stable owner Tony Aldeguer. “If he loses, Top Rank will drop him like a hot potato. He can’t afford to lose this fight and he knows it.”

For the five Filipino fighters, it’s a do-or-die mission. That’s why they’re expected to pull out all the stops in what could be the fight of their lives.

Source: Joaquin Henson  | Philstar.com

Filipino boxers aim for sweep in ‘Pinoy Power 3’

Donaire headlines Pinoy Power 3

Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Bernabe Concepcion, Ciso Morales, and Gerry Peñalosa will be engaged in an all-out war on Valentine's Day.

The Filipino boxers are hoping for a sweep in "Pinoy Power III" which will be held Saturday (Sunday in Manila ). All of them made the weight Friday at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas for their respective fights.

Donaire will defend his WBA super flyweight interim champion title against Manuel Vargas of Mexico .

"I'm really committed in just going for it and not thinking about all the other stuff," Donaire said.

Donaire, The Ring Magazine's Top 6 pound-for-pound boxer, dominated Mexican Raul Martinez in April 2009, and outpointed Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion" of Panama 3 months later.

Donaire (22-1-0, 14KOs) weighed in at 115 pounds while Vargas (34-8-0, 26KOs) came in at 114 pounds.

Meanwhile, Bernabe Concepcion is ready to get back on track after a heartbreaking disqualification in the previous "Pinoy Power" last August due to a late blow he threw against Steven Luevano.

Concepcion, who trained hard at the Wild Card Gym for his fight against Mario Santiago, aims to follow the footsteps of his manager Manny Pacquiao.

"It's great to be training with him. When we get to share the ring, he teaches me footwork and gives me tips in fighting," Concepcion said.



Concepcion (27-3-1, 15 KOs) weighed in at 126 pounds while the Puerto Rican Santiago (21-1-1, 14 KOs ) came in at 126 pounds.

Ring veteran Gerry Peñalosa also takes inspiration from Pacquiao, his friend and idol.

Peñalosa (54-7-2, 36 KOs) came in at 118 pounds while his opponent, Puerto Rican Eric Morel (41-2-0, 21 KOs ), weighed 117 pounds.

The 37-year-old Filipino is confident he can still win his third belt by first defeating Morel in the elimination fight.

Undefeated Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales, on the other hand, is fighting for his first title as he challenges Fernando "Cochulito" Montiel for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight championship.

Morales (14-0-0, 8 KOs ), who has dedicated his fight to fallen boxer Z Gorres, weighed 118 pounds. Reigning champ Montiel also came in at 118.

Also fighting in the undercard is Filipino Mark Melligen (16-2-0, 12 KOs ), who will battle undefeated Texan Raymond Gatica (11-0-0).

Watch the Filipino boxers' quest for glory on ABS-CBN Sports' "Pinoy Power 3" on Sunday (Feb 14), 10:30 am on ABS-CBN with a delayed telecast on Studio 23 at 11:30am.

Those with cable TV can catch "Pinoy Power 3" on Balls Skycable Ch. 34 on February 16 at 4 pm and February 18 at 9 pm.

Source: Author Unknown  | abs-cbnnew.com