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Philippines, 04 Feb 2026 |
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BUHAIN BELIEVES MAYOL TRAINED TOO LATE By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Tue, 07 Aug 2007  Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain believes that light flyweight challenger Rodel Mayol who suffered a stunning eighth round knockout in his IBF title fight against Ulises Solis “started his hard training too late.” It’s the same story of his first attempt to win the WBC minimum weight crown when he dominated the early rounds against Eagle Kyowa, the Japan-based Thai fighter and faded badly to lose a unanimous decision. This time around Mayol who was taken to the US by his former handlers Terry Carter and Joy Ouano after his registered manager Yasuo Matsuoka obtained a US visa for him, was doing light training in Georgia where there was a gym near the Carter residence but no sparring partners. The former handlers were reportedly contacted by Michael Koncz who arranged the title fight against Solis because of his close ties with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and had Mayol move to Las Vegas to train under Kenny Adams, former trainer of the US Olympic boxing team. However, the time he trained under Adams was regarded as too short and the lack of sparring partners in the lighter weight divisions hurt his preparation. Sun Star Cebu’s colorful columnist Homer Sayson who lives in Chicago virtually confirmed what Buhain said when he disclosed that Mayol took the fight on one month’s notice and in a higher weight division because he had no money since he hadn’t fought for almost a year. As we also reported Mayol hardly had any sparring except with roommate Mercito Gesta who is a super featherweight. Sayson revealed that Mayol and Gesta were billeted at the Budget Suites and “had to fend for themselves.” Food was apparently delivered every two weeks and at times they were too tired to cook after roadwork in the sweltering heat of the Nevada desert and subsisted on cereal for breakfast. It will be recalled that another Filipino fighter Diosdado Gabi who was sneaked out of the Philippines by Koncz when Gabi was under contract to Governor Manny Pinol complained that he was ill-treated and poorly fed and was eventually saved from the clutches of Koncz by trainer Freddie Roach and journalist Winchell Campos. Buhain informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that the GAB had upheld the management contract of Japanese businessman Yasuo Matsuoka and turned down the request of Mayol to be released from his contract. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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