Rodel Mayol arrived in Las Vegas yesterday to begin workouts in preparation for his fight against IBF junior flyweight champion Ulises (Archie) Solis of Mexico at the All State Arena in Chicago on Aug. 4.
Mayol, 25, has not fought since knocking out Masatsuya Okada in the first round in Yokohama last September and is coming off a bitter divorce from Japanese manager Yasuo Matsuoka. The long lay-off will be a handicap but boxing broker Michael Koncz said he?s confident the hard-hitting Mandaue fighter will pull through in his second bid to capture a world crown.
Last April, Mayol appealed to GAB chairman Eric Buhain to rescind his contract with Matsuoka because of alleged violations in their agreement. In a letter to Buhain, Mayol said he was shortchanged by Matsuoka in receiving payment for his last three bouts and his career has been on hold because of inactivity caused by the manager?s financial difficulties.
To pursue his career, Mayol recently flew to the US where his former manager Terry Carter and Filipina wife Joy Ouano, who live in Georgia, arranged the title fight with Solis through Koncz.
Solis, 25, has a 24-1-2 record, with 18 KOs, and has made four title defenses since wresting the IBF crown on a decision over Will Grigsby last year. He boasts of two wins over WBC champion Edgar Sosa and knockouts over former world titleholders Jose Antonio Aguirre and Eric Ortiz. Solis? only loss was a majority decision to Nelson Dieppa in a WBO title fight three years ago. His brother Jorge was recently stopped by Manny Pacquiao in a San Antonio bout.
Mayol?s record is 23-1, with 18 KOs including five in the first round. In May last year, he was decked in the 12th round and lost a decision to Eagle Kyowa in a WBC minimumweight championship fight in Tokyo. Mayol has won eight overseas fights so far, including a fourth round knockout over Mexican contender Lorenzo Trejo in Cancun.
Koncz said Mayol will be trained by former US Army sergeant and drillmaster Kenny Adams at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas. Mayol begins sparring tomorrow.
Adams used to train the late world champion Diego Corrales and has a distinguished record as a US national boxing team coach. Freddie Roach has given his go-signal for Mayol to train with Adams whom he highly respects, according to Koncz.
?Kenny is very capable,? said Koncz. ?He?s very strict in the gym. If you?re not willing to work hard, he?ll let you go. He took a little break from boxing to take care of his wife who was ill but now he?s back. Rodel will stay in a one-bedroom suite at a place that?s walking distance to the gym and he?ll be fine.?
Koncz said he?s staking his reputation in signing up Mayol for the fight which will be the opener of a pay-per-view show headlined by Erik Morales? comeback bout against David Diaz for the WBC lightweight title.
?I owe (Solis? promoter) Fernando Beltran for this fight,? said Koncz. ?Solis doesn?t have to fight Rodel who?s not a mandatory challenger. Fernando saw Rodel fight in Cancun and told me he?s an animal in the ring. But Fernando is giving Rodel a chance because he thinks it?ll be an entertaining fight for the fans. I?m grateful to Fernando for this opportunity. I?ve assured him if and when Rodel wins, Solis will get an immediate rematch.?
On the same Chicago card, Filipino Bernabe Concepcion battles Gabriel Elizondo in a North American Boxing Federation superbantamweight title bout. Concepcion has won twice in the US so far and has a 21-1-1 record, with 11 KOs. Elizondo?s record is 22-2, with 10 KOs. Among his victims were Filipinos Manny Melchor (KO7) and Glenn Donaire (W6).
Mayol said he is determined to live his dream of becoming a world champion and to prove it, temporarily left his wife Lira Mendoza and their two children in Mandaue to venture overseas.
Mayol turned pro in 2000 with Tony Aldeguer as his manager. He went on to join Carter?s Cebu stable called Stonewall then relocated to Japan when Matsuoka bought his contract.
?Rodel has five weeks to prepare for Solis,? said Koncz. ?He?s been jogging and working out in Georgia where he stayed with Terry and Joy. Kenny will get him ready. Solis? style is perfect for Rodel. Freddie would?ve trained him but his time is very thin these days with so many fighters under his care. Kenny will give Rodel his full attention three hours a day in the gym.?
Koncz said Mayol is getting the biggest break of his career. ?Not only is Rodel fighting for the world title but he?ll be exposed to the huge US market because his fight will be on pay-per-view,? said Koncz. ?This is Rodel?s chance to show what he can do, what he?s made of. I?m optimistic the Philippines will have a new world champion on Aug. 4.?
