Cancun, MX-Not since 1996 when Luisito Espinosa entered the snake pit in Guadalajara, MX, and sent Alejandro Gonzalez to the hospital, did a Filipino win a fight of note in Mexico. In fact, Espinosa may be the only Filipino in recent times to ever win here. However, 24-year-old WBC #1 ranked Rodel Mayol, now 22-0 (17 KO’s), stepped through the ropes of a hostile Mexican crowd, who had just seen one of their top boxers, Erik Morales, suffer a devastating knock out to Manny Pacquiao, looking like he was back home in Mandaue City, Philippines. Mayol’s opponent, Lorenzo Trejo, the ring savvy #2 contender, knew he was way out of his league on this night.
FRIST ROUND SET THE TONE!
Training in the S.F. Bay Area, Trejo, who drops to 24-13 (11 KO’s), tried his best to get underneath Mayol’s long reach with lead hooks and upper cuts. However, that led the smarter, faster Filipino to land a perfect counter left hook that dropped Trejo late in the round. In the preceding rounds, Mayol, 103 ? lbs., had begun to play with his adversary, throwing every punch with “knock out” intention. This resulted in him over-shooting his target and being open to Trejo’s hooks.
SHADES OF THE PACMAN IN YOUNGSTER!
In the third round, the very quiet Mexican crowd finally stood and roared when Trejo, 103 ?, finally landed that hook he was looking for all night. That drove Mayol back, but his confidence showed; as he banged both fists together and told Trejo to bring it, ala Manny Pacquiao when he gets hit. This not only shocked the fighter, but the crowd as well, as they knew their support would not impact this hungry fighter from the Philippines.
ROUND FOUR PRODUCED KNOCKOUT FOR THE AGES
In round four, Mayol was able to hurt Trejo with another left hook that drove him into the ropes. Like most Mexican warriors, Trejo responded by pressuring Mayol and trying to score a come back knockout. Mayol, who showed great footwork, landed a brilliant uppercut as Trejo was trying to go to the body, which sent him crashing down like a domino to the canvas, where referee Bill Clancy counted him out at 2:29.
JAPANESSE MANAGER SAW THE TALENT EARLY!
Mayol has been a dark horse in this Philippine boxing wave, as fighters like Rey Bautista and Jimrex Jaca get the headlines in the Philippines sports section. However, one manager, Yasou Matsouka, saw the talent and paid 100,000 U.S dollars to take over the managerial duties of Mayol. Matsouka, who also manages former flyweight champion Malcolm Tunacao, now has his fighter ready for a world title shot. The WBC 105 lb. champion is Eagle Kyowa, a Thai who lives in Japan. The fight will likely take place in Japan, which has always been a tough place for Filipinos to win. However, Kyowa’s one defeat, a forth round knockout, does prove that Mayol can stop the champion, whose record is 15-1 (6 KO’s). He may have to knock him out to win a decision in his hometown. Just remember what happened to Jose Navarro when he schooled Japan’s WBC champion, Katsushige Kawashima, only to get robbed of a decision.
PHILIPPINES SHOULD ROLL THE RED CARPET…AGAIN!
Mayol’s win has been lost in the shuffle of Pacman mania, but the victory is huge. Other than Brian Viloria’s sensational first round knockout of Eric Ortiz back in September, and of course any Pacquiao win, Mayol’s victory in Mexico is one the biggest wins of recent times. Not to mention the manner in which Mayol disposed of a top contender in front of his countrymen is very note worthy. I would be very disappointed if Mayol fails to at least have a courtesy call from President Glorica Macapagal Arroyo, who often gives those to Filipino boxer who win big fights. Mayol is the next Filipino to win a world title and his amazing talent and historic victory should be acknowledged, even in the mist of Pacman mania!
