MANILA, Philippines – In a startling move to expose shenanigans in boxing, Rodel Mayol refused to fight WBA flyweight champion Hernan (Tyson) Marquez after a bizarre sequence at yesterday?s weigh-in where the Mexican appeared to be two pounds over the limit but was declared on the button under dubious circumstances.
Mayol said he consulted with his manager Michael Koncz and trainer Nonoy Neri before deciding to withdraw from the bout which would?ve been staged this morning (Manila time) at the Centro de Unos Multiples in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
An attempt was made by Mexico?s Zanfer Promotions to change Mayol?s mind with an increase of his purse by $10,000. But Mayol stood his ground and wouldn?t be bought.
?Actually, I?ve never seen my fight contract,? said Mayol in a phone interview from Mexico. ?At first, I was told my purse would be $25,000. Then, it went down to $20,000. With this last offer, I would get $30,000. But I decided to back out because we want to make a statement. At the weigh-in, it was obvious that the WBA supervisor (Alberto Sarmiento of Venezuela) and the Mexican commission were protecting Marquez. Michael and Nonoy complained that Marquez was on the scales with his feet hanging out. They weighed him four times. They were cheating us before our eyes.?
Koncz said the decision was made to protect not only Filipino boxers but all fighters subjected to prejudicial conditions.
?Michael told me I might never be able to fight for a world title again because Zanfer has a big influence on boxing,? said Mayol. ?But that?s okay. I thanked Michael for everything he?s done for me. I trained hard for Marquez and I know I can beat him. But if they could cheat me so openly at the weigh-in, I can just imagine what they?ll do during the fight. They won?t give me a chance.?
Mayol, 30, said the other Filipino scheduled to fight in the undercard will see action. Richie Mepranum of Sarangani is set to face Mexico?s Juan Francisco Estrada. ?I?m not sure if I?ll watch Richie?s fight,? said Mayol. ?Maybe, I?ll just stay in the hotel or go back to L.A.?
Koncz said this could mean the end of Mayol?s championship career. ?There?s a 100 percent repercussion but I won?t know the true extent until I speak with Fernando (Beltran of Zanfer),? he told The STAR.
Mayol turned pro in 2000 and failed to win a world title in four attempts before bagging the WBC lightflyweight diadem via a second round stoppage of Edgar Sosa in Chiapas, Mexico, three years ago. He was dethroned in his second championship defense by Omar Ni?o Romero in 2010.
Mayol trained at the Rex (Wakee) Salud gym in Cebu for about three weeks, left for the US last March 11 and logged 18 sparring rounds with Mepranum at the Wild Card facility in Los Angeles. Mayol and Mepranum arrived in Obregon with their traveling party last Wednesday.
?The guys are in good spirits,? said Koncz in an earlier text to The STAR. ?They trained hard and know they have tough opponents but they?re confident and will leave it all in the ring.?
Salud said Mayol sparred with southpaws in Cebu as Marquez is lefthanded. Two of his sparmates were WBA bantamweight champion Koki Kameda, who flew in from Japan, and WBO Asia Pacific youth superflyweight titleholder Mark Anthony Geraldo. ?If Rodel loses, it might be time to retire,? said Salud. ?This is a do-or-die for him. I heard from his sparmates that his power isn?t the same as before. Maybe, he?s not as strong at this higher weight. We all know how important it is to have power if you want to win abroad. Without power, Rodel will have a hard time against Marquez.?
But Winchell Campos, a Los Angeles-based Filipino chronicler who is a member of Team Pacquiao, said Mayol is stronger and has more power now. ?He has developed new moves similar to the in-and-out tactics taught by Nonoy via Freddie Roach,? said Campos. ?His team, including assistant Jeremiah (Muray) Quijano, made sure his stamina will carry him through 12 rounds. Mayol underwent an extensive plyometrics training, the same regimen used by Manny himself. They even brought their own cooking pans and utensils.?
Campos said Pacquiao promised a bonus to Mayol and Mepranum if they win. ?I was egging on Richie to score a knockout this time because he only has a few so far in his career,? continued Campos. ?A knockout win by Richie will mean a bigger bonus for him. Richie?s trainer Nathan Tinagsa thinks he?ll make a good account of himself this time. No excuses as he has trained long and hard.? Campus said Pacquiao is backing Mayol?s decision to withdraw.
Campos said talk of retirement is premature. ?Mayol knows that in order for him to win, he needs to knock Marquez out right in front of his own yard,? added Campos. ?I even told him that he needs to expect external factors like a more padded canvas and a small-sized ring. Yes, he has that do-or-die attitude. Let?s not think of retirement now.?
Mepranum, 24, has a 25-2-1 record, with five KOs. Two years ago, he was stopped by Mexico?s Julio Cesar Miranda in the fifth round in a bid for the WBO flyweight title in Puebla. Miranda, 21, boasts a 20-1 record, with 16 KOs. His only loss was a decision to Juan Carlos Sanchez last year in Los Mochis where both fighters were knocked down.
