Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimum weight champion Rodel Mayol is ripe for a world title shot but the four major titleholders in the 105-pound division are avoiding the Mandaue City knockout artist like the plague.
It?s no surprise that the four?the World Boxing Council?s Isaac Bustos of Mexico, the World Boxing Association?s Yukata Niida of Japan, the International Boxing Federation?s Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia and the World Boxing Organization?s Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico?are ducking Mayol whose record is a perfect 19-0 with 15 KOs.
Mayol, 23, is the country?s brightest hope to follow in Manny Pacquiao?s footsteps. He hits like a mule, works hard in the gym, is as tough as nails and doesn?t back down from anybody.
Mayol?s manager Terry Carter, a former US Green Beret who has lived in Cebu the last six years, is convinced his jewel is now a diamond out of the rough. Carter says Mayol is willing to fight any of the four champions anytime, anywhere but no fish is biting.
Inevitably, Mayol will get his chance. He?s ranked No. 2 by the WBC, No. 6 by the WBA and No. 4 by the WBO. Mysteriously, he?s not rated in the top 10 by the IBF which, incidentally, has no No. 1 and No. 2 contenders in seven of 17 divisions.
To keep Mayol busy, Carter is bringing in OPBF No. 2 contender Marti Polii of Manado, Indonesia, for a 12-round fight at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in Para?aque this Saturday. It will be Mayol?s second defense of the OPBF crown he wrested from Genki Ohnaka on a first round stoppage in Tokuyama, Japan, in December 2003.
Promoter Jun Sarreal says it?s no joke finding a willing opponent for Mayol. Phalanchai Sor Vorapin of Thailand was originally booked to face Mayol but the OPBF struck him out as a worthy challenger because of a poor record. OPBF president Frank Quill of Australia eventually approved the defense against Polii who captured the Indonesia title via an eighth round disposal of La Syukur last May.
Polii, 23, began his career in 2001 and racked up an unbeaten string of 12 bouts before losing a decision to Syukur. His only other setbacks were dealt by Filipinos Jun Arlos and Donnie Nietes, both by knockout. Arlos broke Polii?s jaw in scoring an eighth round knockout in Jakarta in April 2003.
Polii outpointed Edmund Velayo last Dec. 14 to raise his record to 17-3-1 with eight KOs.
In the chief aperitif of Sarreal?s card, former Philippine flyweight king Edgar Rodrigo takes on Somyot Vor Surapol of Thailand in a 12-round OPBF title eliminator.
The oldest of five children, Mayol sends two younger brothers Roel and Arvin to school and supports his estranged parents. His father Rodrigo and mother Leonisa Generalao split up seven years ago. His father, who has four children with a second wife, used to be a tricycle driver and is jobless in Mandaue. His mother now lives in Malolos.
When Mayol was in Grade 3 at the Mandaue City Central School, he knocked out a campus bully?bigger and three years older?with a single blow. But it wasn?t until he was 15 that be began seriously training as an amateur fighter under Brix Flores. Mayol won a pair of Palarong Pambansa gold medals then turned pro in July 2000 with Tony Aldeguer as his manager.
In 2001, Carter offered a P200,000 signing bonus for Mayol to join his Stonewall stable. Two years later, Mayol signed an extension up to 2008 and got a $10,000 signing bonus.
Only three fighters have survived the distance with Mayol?Ken Nakajima, Nino Suelo and Isidro Lorona. Mayol, an accounting senior at Southwestern University, has won all his five overseas outings, three in Indonesia and two in Japan. Eight of his 15 abbreviated wins came inside two rounds.
In August 2003, Mayol married Lira Mendoza. The couple has a son Eizre.
