Rodel Mayol was once again on the short-end of a decision tainted by the clash of heads in a foreign land Saturday night.
Mayol, fighting out of Hollywood, California’s Wild Card Gym, and Omar Ni?o engaged in a splendid light flyweight battle over twelve rounds in a see-saw battle.
Out of the gate before a hostile crowd in Queretaro, Mexico Mayol was able to establish offensive dominance with a high punch output and steady in and out defensive movement. During the course of the battle both the Filipino Mayol and Mexican Ni?o bumped their heads with Ni?o having several cuts around his eyes and nose.
In the eighth round Ni?o was able to reach Mayol with a strong right hand and take hold of the fights momentum. During the final five rounds of the contest Mayol controlled the fight with his offensive flurries, as Mayol’s activity level and defensive movement visibly slowed down.
This writers final score card was a 114-114 draw. The final scorecards from the bout’s judges were 115-112 (Conde Lopez), 117-109 (Daniel Mendoza), and 115-111 (Harold Laurens).
Taken into account in the official scorecards was the enforcement of a World Boxing Council (WBC) rule regarding the clash of heads. According to the WBC, if a fighter is cut in a clash of heads, the boxer who is not cut automatically has a point taken from his score.
So while referee Hector Afu did not take any points from Model for the use of his head or head-butting, one point was taken away in the second round and one in the fifth by the judges at ringside.
Without the point deductions, the final scorecards would have read 115-114 (Conde Lopez), 117-111 (Daniel Mendoza), and 115-113 (Harold Laurens). The scorecards would have tightened up, but it is hard to believe not one of the judges had the bout or a draw in favor of the Filipino Model.
Many of Model’s recent fights have been marred by the clash of heads. Two fights with Puerto Rico’s Ivan Calderon ended early due to the accidental clash of heads, the initial bout ending as a draw after three rounds, and the rematch after seven rounds resulting in a Calderon decision victory.
Saturday nights letdown against Ni?o was a rematch from last February where the fight was called a draw after three rounds when Mayol was hit following a stop in action and was unable to continue.
Mayol will likely be maneuvered into other high-profile fights by manager Manny Pacquiao as he is a world-class junior flyweight, but must learn to lead with his punches and not with his head in order to reverse a string of bad luck.
