Reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation minimum-weight kingpin Rodel Mayol departs for Japan today as he girds for the third defense of his crown against Japanese prospect Takayuki Korogi on April 4 at the Central Gym in Osaka, Japan.
In an interview yesterday, Mayol told this writer that he will be accompanied by manager Josephine Ouano, trainer Carl Pe?alosa Jr., and boxing judge Bruce McTavish.
“I have prepared hard for this fight. I’m fighting in enemy territory, so I am not going to go easy against him,” Mayol informed, while also indicating he had logged in some 81 rounds of sparring against IBF no. 7 junior fly Wyndel Janiola, WBC no. 8 minimumweight Armand De la Cruz, Pingping Tepura, and Louie Bantigue at the Stonewall Gym in Lilo-an, Cebu.
The undefeated Mayol, 20-0 (16), who is ranked WBC no. 2, is hoping a win over Korogi will be a springboard for a crack at the WBC crown within this year.
Incidentally, seeing action in the main event is WBC champ Isaac “Tortas” Bustos of Mexico, who will be defending his crown for the first time against Japanese WBC no. 13 Katsunari Takayama.
Korogi, 13-4-3 (4), the former Japanese light-flyweight champ, is expected to go all-out against the vastly-popular Mayol, who will be fighting for only the third time in Japan. Based on records, however, Korogi will need to be larger than himself if he were to beat the speedy and power-punching Mayol, arguably the country’s finest ring gladiator outside of Manny Pacquiao.
