Yasuo Matsuoka, a Japanese boxing aficionado, has signed up world title prospect Rodel Mayol and ex-WBC fly titlist Malcolm Tunacao. Shortly after the signing, Matsuoka, a frequent Manila visitor, vowed to guide Mayol, an unbeaten minimumweight from Cebu, to the world title in early 2006 or middle of that year. “I just want to help promising Filipino boxers like Mayol and of course, Malcolm Tunacao, who is still rated highly in the world,” said Matsuoka, who is being guided in this new endeavor by no less than the respected boxing man Rodrigo Salud, formerly the secretary general of the WBC. Matsuoka has big plans for the two fighters. “By the end of this month, they would already be in Tokyo training for big fights,” said Matsuoka. Mayol holds an unblemished win-loss card of 21-0 with 16 knockouts. The past couple of years, he has been avoided like the plague by the world’s top 105-pounders. Mayol is the reigning OPBF champion.
——————————————————————————– The Philippine boxing community has expressed disappointment oer reports that the June 12 fight of ex-world champ Gerry Penalosa in Massachussetts against Felix Murillo was scrapped at the last minute. This was the second time Penalosa’s fight did not push through after one bout in May against Reynaldo Hurtado in Florida was scrapped too. ——————————————————————————– Bobby Pacquiao, who slugs it out with Carlos Navarro on Friday night in Friant (near Fresno), California, sparred at the world-class training headquarters of Tony Aldeguer in Cebu. Pacquiao, brother of boxing star manny pacquiao, is the reigning Philippine super-feather champion.
