Source: GMA News
Filipino-American Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria primed himself for another world title shot after scoring a seventh-round technical knockout (TKO) win over Thailand's Liempetch Sor Veerapol in the "Boxing at the Bay: Friday Fight Fest" at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The former 2000 Sydney Olympic Games gold medalist and former two-time world champion Viloria floored the Thai three times, two of which came in the eighth round, forcing Filipino referee Ferdie Estrella to halt the bout at 2:09.
The win hiked Viloria's record to 28 wins, 15 by knockout, and could earn him a mandatory shot at the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight crown of Mexican champion Julio Cesar Miranda.
Viloria, who only has three losses, is listed as the organization's No. 1 contender. His camp led by manager Gary Gittleson hopes to arrange for the fight as early as February or March.
"I felt pretty good," said Viloria, who turns 30 on November 23 and is scheduled to marry fiancee Erika Navarro on December 3.
"I worked a lot in the gym, especially with my body shots. I thought I need to improve on my combinations a little bit more but overall I think we did well."
The loss dropped Veerapol's record to 19-8-1. It was his third consecutive loss in the Philippines after dropping his first two matches to former world champion Marvin Sonsona and Johnriel Casimiro.
Viloria, wearing shiny green trunks with gold trimming, set the pace early in the match, connecting with solid rights and combinations in the first four rounds.
After receiving two UFC-type takedowns in the opening minutes of the fifth, Viloria countered with a series of body shots that sent Veerapol down in the 1:20 mark for the first knockdown of the 10-round bout.
Two rounds later, Viloria sealed Veerapol's fate when he connected with a left hook to the jaw that dropped the Thai to the canvass.
Veerapol managed to get up and beat Estrella's eight-count but Viloria let loose a number of blows to the Thai's head and body that sent him down anew, thus ending the match.
"He was really strong and it showed with his good conditioning," said Veerapol through an interpreter.
Triumphant Pinoys in undercards
Rodel Mayol, seeking to get back on the winning track after losing his world title, beat Thai Pompetch Twins Gym with a seventh-round stoppage in a one-sided match.
Mayol, who lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight crown to Mexico's Omar Nino Romero after just one title defense early this year, improved his ring record to 26-5-2 with his 21st KO.
Denver "The Excitement" Cuello scored a first round TKO victory over Kongkrai Kiatpracha of Thailand in a match that succeeded Viloria's bout.
Cuello knocked down Kongkrai thrice in the first round, thus ending the action in just two minutes and eight seconds.
Many thought Manny Pacquiao was in action in one of the undercards but it turned out to be a deadringer for him in Al Sabaupan, who scored a 10-round unanimous decision over Arnel Dunal.
Marlon Tapales also beat Rey Migrino with a 10-round decision, while Edward Penerio did the same in eight rounds over Allan Ranada.
Source: Boxing Scene
-- The World Boxing Council ratifies the result announced in Guadalajara.
By means of this communication, the World Boxing Council ratifies the decision announced last February 27th in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
I, as the President of the organization, had a meeting with three members of the WBC Board of Governors and two ring officials in Thailand, where I currently am. Likewise I ordered that a committee in Mexico review the available elements in great detail, and the conclusion that the organization has reached is the following:
The Technical Draw announced is confirmed and ratified, applying rule WC-3 # 16 of the Rules and Regulations for WBC World Championship Fights, which states the following:
WC-3 # 16 Unexpected Events.
In the event that, at the discretion of the referee, it becomes impossible to continue the bout, the result of the bout will be a Technical Draw or Decision depending on the round in which the fight was stopped, (in accordance with point 13).
Likewise, the World Boxing Council has ordered an immediate direct rematch between Rodel Mayol and Omar Niño.
Jose Sulaiman Chagnon
President
World Boxing Council
RODEL MAYOL VS. OMAR NIÑO – FINAL RESOLUTION
The World Boxing Council put to the vote of the WBC Board of Governors, the written appeal submitted by Mr. Hector Garcia, representative to Omar Niño, for a final and definitive resolution.
The World Boxing Council has unanimously voted to ratify the decision announced last Saturday February 27th, in Guadalajara, Jalisco, being the result of the bout a technical draw and ordering a direct and immediate rematch between Rodel Mayol and Omar Niño.
Serve this communication to notify both Rodel Mayol and Omar Niño that they have a deadline of 5 days to submit a written confirmation of their participation in this fight that has been ordered by the World Boxing Council.
If Rodel Mayol declines to directly fight Omar Niño, the title will be declared vacant. If Omar Niño declines to fight Rodel Mayol in a rematch, the World Boxing Council will name a substitute fighter in accordance with the World Boxing Council Rules and Regulations.
Likewise, the WBC Disciplinary Committee has been appointed to investigate the facts that took place between Rodel Mayol´s trainer and the photographer, to be able to determine what happened and clarify any situation that is out of the context of the sport and that affected anybody who was present.
Part 1
Part 2
Source: ABS-CBN News
-- Filipino boxers Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol and “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona both suffered knockdowns in their respective “Double Assault” fights on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) but they met contrasting fates.
Despite the knockdown, Mayol successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) junior flyweight after his bout against Mexican Omar Nino Romero ended in a technical draw, PhilBoxing.com reported.
Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona, on the other hand, failed to win another world title. He was defeated by eventual WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. of Puerto Rico.
Mayol, who fought in Guadalajara, Mexico, was hit by his foe “with a series of low blows.”
According to writer Dong Secuya, the referee was going to stop the fight in Round 3 when the Mexican fired a left “that hit squarely at the jaw of the momentarily defenseless Mayol who crashed to the canvas almost unconscious.”
Officials then announced that the title remained with Mayol while the boxer was being prepared to be taken to the hospital.
Mayol currently has a record of 26-4-2 (with 20 KOs) while Romero has a record of 28-3-2 (with 11 KOs).
Meantime, Dr. Ed de la Vega of PhilBoxing.com assured that Mayol is fine. “Although he was hit hard on the jaw, there was no fracture in his jaw and his neck is fine. We are about to get back to our hotel from the hospital,” he noted.
Sonsona, Rubillar fail
The 19-year-old Sonsona, meanwhile, was dealt his first career loss in Bayamon, Puerto Rico by local Vazquez.
Vazquez bagged the vacant WBO junior featherweight belt after scoring a knockout in Round 4 “with a left hook to the liver.”
The son of former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. remained undefeated at 18-0-1 (with 15 KOs) while Sonsona slumped to 14-1-1 (with 12 KOs).
Another Filipino, meantime, also lost in his attempt to become a world champion.
Veteran Juanito Rubillar failed to bag the (IBO) junior flyweight title in South Africa as he was beaten by local Hekkie Budler by majority decision, Ronnie Nathanielsz of PhilBoxing.com reported.
Nathanielsz noted that the judges scored in favor of the South African, 117-113 and 115-113 while the third judge scored it even, 114-114.
Budler kept his record clean at 14-0 (with 5 KOs) while Rubillar now has a record of 48-14-7 (with 23 KOs).
Source: Oliver Suarez, Fight Hype
-- The Philippines always had a fondness for boxing, the reason that it has always been a hotbed for talented young boxers. The emergence of Manny Pacquiao as a major star in boxing has only added more talent to its boxing stable by influencing many of the country’s younger generation to participate in the sport.
It can be argued that Philippines is as great a boxing nation as Mexico and Puerto Rico. Mexico and Puerto Rico are only more recognized because before Pacquiao, Filipinos were not given the same opportunities to display their skills at the world stage.
But now the country is slowly gaining respect as more opportunities become available to Filipino boxers because of Pacquiao’s popularity and the magnitude of the Filipino market.
The Philippines now currently has four major title holders with Filipino descent: Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, Manny Pacquiao, and Rodel Mayol.
Still, it’s still questionable if the success of Philippine boxing can be sustained after Pacquiao. Would promoters and others continue to invest on Filipino boxers after Pacquiao?
It depends if the most influential figures in Philippine boxing has already set a stable foundation to ensure its continued success after the current pound for pound king retires. Did they properly take advantage of all the opportunities provided by Pacquiao’s success?
They certainly had enough time to develop a stable foundation since Pacquiao has been a star of the sport for quite sometime
The truth is they have not because their priorities may not have been in the right place and thus affected the potential success of many Filipino fighters.
The problem is most of the Filipino boxers are not being provided the best chance to win. Success is great but it can lead to greed and questionable decision making.
Ciso Morales is a great example of a fighter of this questionable decision making. Now some are questioning his heart and courage because of his devastating loss to Montiel. But the question that should be put out is if he was given the best chance to win. Morales is a young kid who has not fought any notable opponent, yet was pitted against a world class fighter in Fernando Montiel. Not only that, he had to go down in weight to face him.
If they are not given the best chance to win, then they are destined to only attain mediocre type of success. Those who are responsible for these boxers’ careers must evaluate their priorities. Do they care more about immediate success and make money in the short term or do they care about the long term success of their boxers?
A great example of how to properly prepare a fighter is Andre Ward. For the longest time, his handlers and he were criticized for not facing elite fighters or fighting for a title. It was because his handlers wanted him to be both physically and mentally prepared before he stepped up in competition. Now, he just beat a world class opponent in Kessler and is now considered one of the best young fighters in the game.
Developing young fighters who can contend is a major factor in ensuring the success of Philippine boxing. This doesn’t only include that they are physically and mentally ready, but ensuring that they are provided the right strategies for their fights and choosing the right opponents that can help them prepare for future fights against elite opponents. Constantly pitting them against journeyman fighters to hype up their record only does more harm than good in the long term.
Filipinos are just like any other sports fans, they want winners and if they are constantly provided mediocre products then sooner or later they will stop supporting it.
If that happens, then Philippine boxing might again be on the outside looking in after Pacquiao. Filipino fighters once again will find it difficult to get those opportunities to fight for world titles against notable opponents.
Another factor that must be answered is if many of the Filipino fans who support Pacquiao are truly boxing fans or just fans of the Filipino icon.
It is a question that is still need to be answered. How many Filipinos who are ‘supposedly’ boxing fans know about other boxers such as Eden Sonsona, Marvin Sonsona, Aj Banal etc? The fact is a great number of Filipinos I’ve come across with are not familiar with any of the names mentioned above and only know Pacquiao.
Will they continue to support and have the same passion for the sport even after Pacquiao in order to entice promoters to keep investing on Filipino fighters?
Nonito Donaire Jr. is a great champion who just keeps on winning and it’s a wonder why he has not gotten the support of more Filipino fans. People are quick to judge him for failing to fight notable opponents. Some of that may be due to some fighters’ hesitancy to fight a fighter of Donaire’s caliber, but it’s also because the financial incentives might not be enough for them to face ‘The Filipino Flash.’
Filipinos need to support Donaire to convince promoters that the Filipino market in boxing is not dependent on Pacquiao. In fact, it might be necessary and not an option because if other Filipino fighters are only achieving mediocre success, then the responsibility of keeping the fire burning for Philippine boxing will all fall on Donaire’s shoulders.
So will Philippine boxing continue its current success after Pacquiao retires? Only time will tell.
What do you think?
Source: Joaquin Henson, philstar.com
-- Seven-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was the undisputed headline-maker in the sport this year and his status as the universal No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter paved the way for the most ever title bouts involving Filipinos during a 12-month period in history.
Pacquiao, 31, figured in only two bouts in 2009 but both were monumental. He knocked out England’s Ricky Hatton in two rounds to wrest the IBO lightwelterweight crown in Las Vegas last May then halted Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in the 12th to capture the WBO welterweight title, also in Las Vegas, last month.
When the smoke cleared, Pacquiao emerged as the only fighter ever to win seven world titles in seven weight divisions, breaking out of a tie with Oscar de la Hoya, Tommy Hearns, Hector Camacho and James Toney who collected six.
For the year, there were 16 world championship bouts with Filipino protagonists. Filipino fighters won nine, lost five and drew two. Six Filipino world titlists reigned during a highly productive year – Pacquiao, WBO minimumweight Donnie Nietes, IBF lightflyweight Brian Viloria, WBC lightflyweight Rodel Mayol, IBF flyweight Nonito Donaire and WBO superflyweight Marvin Sonsona.
Today, only four Filipinos remain on top of the world – Pacquiao, Nietes, Viloria and Mayol. Donaire relinquished his IBF crown to annex the interim WBA superflyweight diadem while Sonsona lost his belt on the scales and was held to a draw by Mexico’s Alejandro Hernandez in what would have been his first title defense.
The Filipinos who won in world title fights were Pacquiao (over Hatton and Cotto), Nietes (over Erik Ramirez and Manuel Vargas, both in Mexico), Viloria (over Ulises Solis and Jesus Iribe), Mayol (over Edgar Sosa), Donaire (over Raul Martinez) and Sonsona (over Jose Lopez).
The losers were Juanito Rubillar (to Giovanni Segura for the WBA lightflyweight title), Mayol (to Ivan Calderon on a technical decision for the WBO lightflyweight title), Sonny Boy Jaro (to Segura), Eric Barcelona (to Simpiwe Vetyeka for the IBO bantamweight title) and Bernabe Concepcion (to Steven Luevano on a disqualification for the WBO featherweight title). Recording draws were Mayol (with Calderon) and Sonsona (with Hernandez).
At the end of the year, 26 Filipinos were listed in the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world ratings. In the minimumweight 105-pound division were WBO champion Nietes, Denver Cuello (No. 4 WBC, No. 10 WBA, No. 12 IBF, No. 13 WBO), Milan Melindo (No. 1 WBO, No. 3 IBF, No. 3 WBA, No. 5 WBC) and Florante Condes (No. 6 IBF, No. 8 WBO, No. 15 WBC). The lightflyweights were IBF champion Viloria, WBC champion Mayol, Johnriel Casimero (No. 4 WBO), Jaro (No. 3 WBC, No. 7 WBO, No. 13 WBA, Juanito Rubillar (No. 7 WBC), Bert Batawang (No. 9 IBF) and Edren Dapudong (No. 3 WBO, No. 6 IBF, No. 11 WBA).
Richie Mepranum was the only Filipino ranked flyweight as the No. 8 WBA contender. The superflyweights were Z Gorres (No. 8 WBC, No. 10 WBA), A. J. Banal (No. 14 WBC, also No. 5 WBA, No. 5 IBF and No. 7 WBO bantamweight), Drian Francisco (No. 4 WBA, No. 6 WBO, No. 8 IBF), Fernando Lumacad (No. 9 IBF) and Federico Catubay (No. 12 IBF). The bantamweights were Michael Domingo (No. 7 IBF), Gerry Peñalosa (No. 2 WBO) and Jundy Maraon (No. 5 WBO).
Ranked in the superbantamweight 122-pound ladder were Ramie Laput (No. 4 WBO), Ciso Morales (No. 9 WBO) and Balweg Bangoyan (No. 11 WBC).Concepcion was the only Filipino rated featherweight at No. 4 by the WBO. Michael Farenas was ranked No. 15 superfeatherweight by the WBO and Mark Jason Melligen, No. 15 superlightweight by the WBA. Pacquiao is recognized as the welterweight titleholder by the WBO. Curiously missing in the ratings were Donaire and Sonsona.
Interim world champions by year-end were Donaire and WBO lightflyweight Casimero.
Pacquiao’s influence opened the window for Filipino fighters to display their wares in the undercard of his two Las Vegas bouts this year. In the Pacquiao-Hatton undercard, Concepcion pounded out a six-round decision over Colombia’s Yogli Herrera. In the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard, Eden Sonsona stopped Israel’s Eilon Kedem while Mepranum outpointed Colorado’s Ernie Marquez.
Pacquiao also provided the push for Top Rank to stage “Pinoy Power 2” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last August where Donaire beat Panama’s Rafael Concepcion, Mark Jason Melligen knocked out Mexico’s Ernesto Zepeda and Concepcion lost to Luevano. In another Las Vegas card last month, Z Gorres lost consciousness after decisioning Colombia’s Luis Melendez, Melligen bowed to Mexico’s Michel Rosales and Catubay was trounced by Mexico’s Juan Alberto Rosas.
Boxing enjoyed a renaissance on Philippine shores. Solar Sports produced “Pinoy Power 1” with Donaire and Viloria as the main eventers in separate encounters at the Big Dome last April then got its new series “Boxing at the Bay” off to a strong start with Francisco mowing down Panama’s Roberto Vasquez at the Cuneta Astrodome last October. There were also major shows in Cebu, Tagbilaran City, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz City, Davao City and Kidapawan.
Additionally, Pacquiao perked up even more interest in local boxing by training for Cotto several weeks with Freddie Roach and Colombian conditioning coach Alex Ariza in Baguio City. While in the City of Pines, Pacquiao drew hordes of visitors – including Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Among future world champions, ALA Boxing Gym’s Banal and Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista continued to make headway in their rise to the top. Banal, 20, chalked up three wins this year, trouncing Nouldy Manakane, Mbwane Matumla and Jose Beranza to raise his record to 20-1-1, with 16 KOs. Bautista, 23, ended almost a year’s layoff to recover from hand surgery and stopped Indonesia’s Maragin Marbun for the vacant WBC International featherweight title to improve his record to 27-2, with 20 KOs.
On a sad note, Gorres underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his skull after the Melendez fight in Las Vegas. He will no longer be able to fight. And last September, Pacquiao’s former business manager Rod Nazario passed away at the age of 74.
Next year, more Filipinos are expected to see action in world title fights. On Jan. 23, Viloria will defend his IBF 108-pound title against Colombia’s Carlos Tamara and Nietes will stake his WBO 105-pound crown against Mexico’s Ivan Meneses at the Cuneta Astrodome. Morales will challenge WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico on Feb. 13 in Las Vegas and Marvin Sonsona is likely to take on Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in San Juan in March. Pacquiao will be back in the ring, maybe against Floyd Mayweather Jr. or WBA superwelterweight king Yuri Foreman, in March. Eden Sonsona, Melindo, Francisco, Donaire, Casimero and Banal are close to sealing title shots in what promises to be another successful chapter in Philippine boxing history next year.
Source: gmanews.tv
-- If he would have his way, WBC light-flyweight champion Rodel Mayol wants a spot in the undercard of the March 13 megafight of his promoter, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In his native Mandaue for the holidays, the LA-based titlist said he dreams of seeing action underneath Pacquiao-Mayweather in a unification fight with WBA 108-lb titleholder Giovanni Segura.
If this is not possible, the 28-year-old Mayol said he envisions to make his first defense of the belt he won last month via a second round TKO of long-time champ Edgar Sosa of Mexico.
“They told me I would be defending against Omar Nino Romero. I would like to defend my title here in Cebu," Mayol, who fights under the alias “Batang Mandaue," was quoted by PhilBoxing.com as saying in a recent radio interview in Cebu.
“But my dream fight would be a unification match against WBA champ Giovanni Segura in the undercard of Pacquiao-Mayweather," he added.
Viloria fight?
Mayol, though, is not that hot on going after the IBF light-flyweight title as it is held by a compatriot in Brian Viloria.
“I don’t really think it’s a good idea, considering that he is also a Filipino and we have few world title belts. But if the fans want to see that fight, why not?" he said.
Mayol and Viloria, like Pacquiao, belong to a short list of Filipino boxing champions. In their company are WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr., WBO minimumweight boss Donnie Nietes and IBA and WBO female super-bantamweight champ Ana Julaton.
Before being a world champion, Mayol, a fighter belonging to Pacquiao's MP Promotions stable, endured years of frustration.
He lost to WBC minimumweight king Eagle Den Junlaphan via decision in his first crack in 2006 then got knocked out by IBF light-flyweight holder Ulises Solis in 2007 and had two futile bids against WBO kingpin Ivan Calderon, who escaped with a sixth-round split technical draw last June and a seventh-round split technical decision last September.
Source: Joaquin Henson, philstar.com
-- Newly crowned WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol said yesterday he plans to enjoy a long reign and welcomes a unification showdown with WBA titlist Giovanni Segura after he disposes of Edgar Sosa in a rematch that is mandatory if the dethroned Mexican exercises his option.
Mayol, 28, stopped Sosa in the second round to wrest the WBC 108-pound title in Chiapas, Mexico, last Saturday. That same night in Merida, another town in Mexico, Segura knocked out Filipino challenger Sonny Boy Jaro with a single
body shot in the first round to retain the WBA crown.
“I’ve sparred with Segura before and I know I can beat him,” Mayol told The STAR. “Winning the world championship is something I’ve dreamed of for years. Now that I’ve finally done it, I plan to stay a world champion for a long time. I want to unify the lightflyweight championship. I’d like to fight Segura. The problem is the IBF champion is Brian Viloria and I wouldn’t like to fight another Filipino. The WBO champion is Ivan Calderon whom I’ve fought twice in two controversial bouts. I don’t think Calderon wants to fight me again.”
Mayol said he doubts if Sosa was in condition to fight when they faced off. At the weigh-in the day before the match, Mayol suspected the Mexican’s camp was up to no good.
“First, we were told the weigh-in would be at 1 p.m., then it was moved to 2 p.m. and later to 3 p.m.,” said Mayol. “We heard Sosa was buying time to make the limit. There was some confusion at the weigh-in and we never got to see the scales when Sosa weighed in. Too many people were around him. Sosa went up the scales then got off right away and somebody announced he made the weight.”
Mayol said Sosa looked dehydrated when the fight began and it showed in the lack of sting in his punches. In the first round, Mayol hurt Sosa at least twice with combinations. Early in the second round, Sosa suffered a slight cut on the right cheek after an accidental headbutt from Mayol who was penalized a point for the infraction. Sosa was given a few minutes to recover then was cleared by the ringside doctor to resume fighting. Not long after, Mayol floored Sosa with a left hook to the jaw. The Mexican got up on rubbery legs then took a series of blows along the ropes, prompting referee Robert Ramirez to step in.
Sosa said Mayol should have been disqualified for the headbutt and his manager Jacques Deschamps, a Frenchman from Haiti, called for the fight to be declared a no-contest.
“After the headbutt, Sosa seemed okay,” recalled Mayol. “Then, I hit him with a right and a left. I knew he was hurt. I didn’t let him go. I was determined to win. I think he’s just using the headbutt as an excuse for losing. He has the option for a rematch and I’ll fight him again anytime, anywhere.”
Mayol said he’s waiting for the WBC to send his championship belt. Once it arrives, Mayol, his wife Lira and their five-year-old son Eizre Bryce will fly home for a visit to show off the belt.
“We left our one-year-old son Railan Brent with my grandparents (Domingo and Alicia Mayol) in Mandaue,” said Mayol. “We miss him. He was born in the US so it’s no problem bringing him over but we left him with my grandparents so he can be looked after.”
Mayol’s wife, a UP Cebu management graduate, was at ringside for the fight. She is employed as an operations assistant at L. A. Gems, a jewelry store in downtown Los Angeles.
Mayol said he dedicated his victory to his grandparents, Manny Pacquiao and the Filipino fans who never lost faith in him.
“I owe this title to Manny,” said Mayol. “He gave me this break. He didn’t give up on me. It was my fifth attempt to win a world title and I finally did it.”
Mayol said Freddie Roach supervised his training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles but it was Jesse Arevalo, an American of Mexican descent, who was in his corner for the fight.
“Freddie was busy with Manny when I was training so Jesse was assigned to work with me,” said Mayol. “When Freddie was free, he still coached me during sparring and we did the mitts.”
Dr. Ed de la Vega, who served as the Filipino’s cutman in the fight, said Sosa couldn’t handle Mayol’s speed and power. Arevalo said Mayol dominated the action from the onset and was clearly the superior fighter.
Mayol said he will visit his estranged parents when he comes home. Mayol, who has 18 units left before earning an accounting degree at Southwestern University, comes from a broken family. His parents Rodrigo and Leonisa Generalao split up in 1997. His father used to be a tricycle driver and has four children with a second wife. His mother lives in Malolos with two children from her second husband Angel Cruz, a jeepney driver who has died.
In a message to Filipino fighters hoping to become world champions someday, Mayol said: “Don’t lose hope, just keeping on training until you achieve your goal in your career with the help of God and prayers.”
Source: Joaquin Henson, philstar.com
-- Brushing aside charges of foul play, newly-crowned WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol of Mandaue City said yesterday he took the title away from Edgar Sosa fair and square but can’t wait for the rematch to shut the Mexican up for good.
Mayol halted Sosa, making the 11th defense of lightflyweight diadem he won on a majority decision over Brian Viloria two years ago, to claim the WBC crown in Chiapas, Mexico, last Saturday night. Referee Robert Ramirez stepped in to stop the bout as Sosa was under attack along the ropes after he was dropped by a left hook to the jaw in the second round.
Sosa has the option for a rematch as stipulated in the fight contract with Mayol.
Mayol, 28, said Sosa lacked power in his punches and appeared weak from making the 108-pound limit at the weigh-in the day before. Sosa, 30, complained that he never recovered from a headbutt early in the second round. His manager Jacques Deschamps described the headbutt as “vicious” and “intentional,” insisting that Mayol should have been disqualified for the infraction.
Deschamps said he will protest the outcome and press for a no-contest, claiming Sosa was in no condition to continue because of the headbutt despite clearance from the ringside doctor. Sosa reportedly suffered a fractured cheekbone.
Deschamps accused Mayol of deliberately butting Sosa and said the Filipino did the same in his previous two fights against Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon. Both fights against Calderon were stopped because of injuries caused by headbutting – the first was declared a technical draw and the second was won by the Puerto Rican via a split technical decision.
But Mayol said Deschamps was just sourgraping. He said he’ll be ready for a rematch anytime, anywhere.
Mayol seized the initiative from the onset, jarring Sosa with combinations from long distance in the opening round. It was apparent that Sosa had no antidote for Mayol’s speed.
Mayol came out smoking in the second round. During a fierce exchange, Sosa was struck on the right cheek by Mayol’s head. Sosa was given a few minutes to recover from the accidental headbutt but was declared fit to continue by the ringside physician. Ramirez penalized Mayol a point for the infraction.
Mayol went after Sosa when the fight was resumed and landed a powerful right straight to the face, staggering the Mexican. Going for the kill, Mayol pounced on Sosa, bleeding from the nose, and connected with a left hook to the jaw. Sosa fell on the seat of his pants and got up on rubbery legs. Mayol then pinned him against the ropes, firing at least six shots before Ramirez stopped the massacre.
What Mayol is looking forward to is returning home a world champion, something he has dreamed of since turning pro in 2000. It took Mayol five attempts before finally bagging a world title.
A two-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, Mayol started out as a pro with Tony Aldeguer until Terry Carter, an American war veteran then living in Cebu, offered the fighter a P200,000 signing bonus to join his Stonewall stable in 2001. Carter later sold Mayol’s rights to Japanese businessman Yasuo Matsuoka for P4 million.
When Matsuoka, who is married to Gina Orlais of Agusan del Norte, relinquished his rights to Mayol, the fighter connected with Manny Pacquiao’s camp. Mayol was brought by Pacquiao’s advisers Wakee Salud and Michael Koncz to Los Angeles where he trained under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym.
Mayol was luckless in four previous bids for a world title. In 2006, he was floored in the last round in losing a decision to WBC minimumweight champion Eagle Kyowa in Tokyo. In 2007, Mayol was stopped by IBF lightflyweight titleholder Ulises Solis. Last June, he figured in a technical draw with WBO lightflyweight titlist Calderon and in a rematch three months later, lost on a split technical decision.
The oldest of five children, Mayol found out how good he was with his fists by accident. When he was in Grade 3 at the Mandaue City Central School, Mayol knocked out a campus bully – bigger and three years older – with a single punch. But it wasn’t until he was 15 when he began seriously training as an amateur under Brix Flores.
Mayol and wife Lira Mendoza have two children, Eizre Bryce, 5, and Railan Brent, 1. Mayol met Lira through her sister Nesiree, a marathoner whom he used to train with at the Aldeguer gym in Cebu.
Lira was a UP Cebu scholar and management graduate.
The win over Sosa improved Mayol’s record to 26-4-1, with 20 KOs. It was Sosa’s first loss to a Filipino after repulsing Viloria, Sonny Boy Jaro and Juanito Rubillar.
Saturday night in Tuxtla Gutierrez Chiapas, Mexico, Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol (25-4-1, 19 KOs) scored a second round TKO over longtime WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (37-5, 21 KOs), who was making his 11th defense (in 28 months). After Sosa was badly hurt by an unintentional headbutt, he was dropped again when action resumed and the referee waved it off moments later. Mayol was successful in his fifth attempt at a world title.
Source: Dennis Principe, mb.com.ph
-- Rodel Mayol averted what would have been a bleak weekend for Philippine boxing by winning back for the country the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title Sunday in Mexico.
Already in his fifth attempt at a world crown, the 28-year-old Mayol (26-4-1, 20 knockouts) snatched the belt via second round technical knockout (TKO) win over longtime champion Edgar Sosa (37-6, 21 KOs) in a bout held in the champion’s turf of Chiapas, Mexico.
Mayol’s WBC crown was last held by current International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight ruler Brian Viloria who lost to Mexican Omar Romero back in 2006.
The win avenged the defeats suffered by three Filipino challengers who battled Sosa, including Viloria whom he fought for the vacant title in 2007.
Sosa was making the 11th defense of his crown in a span of 28 months.
Mayol, who fights under MP Promotions owned by pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, initially hurt Sosa with an accidental head butt.
The Mexican then got up on wobbly legs after being floored by a clean right straight in the second round. Mayol then went for the kill with a barrage of shots, forcing the referee to end the match.
Meanwhile, Mayol’s MP stablemate Sonny Boy Jaro was not as lucky as the Filipino got stopped in the opening round with a vicious body shot by Mexican Giovanni Segura held in a separate venue in Yucatan, Mexico.
In Canada, the highly-touted world super flyweight champion Marvin Sonsona earned a 12-round split draw opposite Mexican foe Alejandro Hernandez after being stripped of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight crown.
During the weigh-in which was held in the morning of the scheduled 12-round fight, the 19-year-old Sonsona (14-0-1, 12 KOs) came in over the 115-lb limit.
Hernandez (22-7-2, 11 KOs) made the weight at exactly 115lbs.
The 19-year-old Sonsona, who hails from the same province as Pacquiao, used his advantage in skills in the early goings but Hernandez came back strong in the later rounds with body attacks.
It turned out that the Mexican’s effort was not enough as only one judge had him winning, 115-113. The second judge gave the fight to Sonsona with a similar 115-113 while the third had it 114-114 in a match held at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.
“We already knew yesterday that Marvin won’t be able to make the weight so we informed the Canadian commission right away. But Marvin knew the importance of this fight as another title shot is in store for him in the super bantamweight division,” said promoter Gello-Ani in an overseas call with the Bulletin.
Apparently, Gello-ani was already anticipating that Sonsona won’t be able to make the weight for quite some time by admitting that he was already dealing with a shot at the WBO super bantamweight crown February of next year
Source: gmanews.tv
-- Win some, lose some for Filipino boxers.
On the same day that Marvin Sonsona lost his WBO super flyweight crown to the weighing scales in Canada, compatriot Rodel Mayol finally won a world title over in Mexico.
A fighter promoted by Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, Mayol hacked out a second round technical knockout win over hometown bet Edgar Sosa Saturday in Chiappas, Mexico (Sunday in Manila) to wrest the WBC light-flyweight belt from the long-time champion.
According to FightNews.Com, Sosa was badly hurt after an unintentional head butt and when action resumed, Mayol dropped the champion and relentlessly attacked, forcing the referee to cut the fight short.
Mayol finally hit paydirt on his fifth attempt at the world title, achieving it exactly a week after his “promoter" Pacquiao grabbed his record seventh division crown at the expense of former WBO welterweight kingpin Miguel Cotto.
Mayol’s upset win over Sosa, who had made 10 successful defense of the WBC 108-lb plum prior to the bout, made up for the unfortunate experience of erstwhile champion Sonsona in Canada.
The 19-year-old Sonsona came in 2.6 lbs over the 115-lb limit for his first defense against Mexican Alejandro Hernandez, consequently getting himself stripped of the crown he won two months ago.
The fight proceeded as scheduled Saturday in Canada (Sunday in Manila) with Sonsona engaging Hernandez in close fight that ended in a split draw.
If it’s any consolation, Sonsona kept his win-loss-draw ring record clean at 14-0-1. He plans to move up two divisions higher for his next fight.
Sonsona’s place in the Filipino roster of champions was thus replaced by Mayol, who joined Pacquiao, WBA interim super flyweight boss Nonito Donaire, Jr., IBF light flyweight ruler Brian Viloria, and WBO miniumweight boss Donnie Nietes in the elite club.
