WILL Rodel Mayol find himself third time lucky or will his bad luck come in threes?
Mayol will be gunning for his third world title attempt, this time against the undefeated Ivan Calderon for the World Boxing Organization light flyweight crown on Sunday at the historic Madison Square Garden in New York.
Mayol, who already has two foiled world title shots in 2006 and 2007, promised an action-packed world championship bout with the slippery Calderon.
?I would like to thank Top Rank for giving me the opportunity to fight at Madison Square Garden. This is my third time fighting for a title and I?m going to try my best to win this fight.
Everyone knows Calderon is a good boxer but many say his fights are boring. I will ensure that on Saturday night this fight will not be boring,? Fightnews.com quoted Mayol during the final press conference.
Mayol, who has a record of 25 wins and three losses with 19 knockouts, lost his first world championship fight against Thai Eagle Den Junlaphan by unanimous decision for the World Boxing Council minimumweight belt in Japan.
He also failed his second world title try after being stopped by erstwhile International Boxing Federation light flyweight titlist Ulises Solis in the eighth round in the US.
Meanwhile, Calderon shot back at Mayol and said he is not a dull fighter. His foes just can?t hit him.
?He may say my fights are boring because you are used to see boxers hit and I?m never getting hit. I know it?s going to be a good fight. They trained and I trained hard for this fight.
My style is hit, don?t get hit and go back home with no marks.
A lot of people love my fights because my boxing is not boring.
This is my first time fighting at MSG on a big card. A lot of people say he?ll have Manny Pacquiao in his corner but I?ll have the whole country of Puerto Rico in mine,? said Calderon.
Undefeated
Calderon is unbeaten in 32 fights but only has six knockouts.
He is a two-division world champion and has been in 16 world title matches. He defended his WBO light flyweight title thrice and the WBO mini-flyweight crown 11 times.
Renowned boxing trainer Nonito Donaire Sr., the father of IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., said the 27-year-old Mayol has a huge chance of winning if he gets aggressive.
?If Mayol pressures or knocks him down, then he has a huge chance winning. Calderon has already been knocked down by (Hugo Fidel) Cazares. Mayol has a huge chance even if it goes to the score cards because the fight isn?t in Puerto Rico,? Donaire told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
