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CAN MAYOL FINALLY WIN A WORLD TITLE TODAY?
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Jun 2009
Having failed in two previous tries, US-based Filipino Rodel Mayol will attempt to win the world title once again today in what is conceivably his most difficult fight against unbeaten WBO junior flyweight kingpin Ivan Calderon.
The 12-round fight will be serve as the chief support to the Miguel Cotto-Joshua Clottey WBO welterweight showdown at the Madison Square Garden.
Mayol versus Calderon will be beamed live in Puerto Rico, Britain and the Philippines.
Aside from the WBO crown, Calderon, who hails from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico will also defend his lineal junior flyweight crown, being considered as the best 108-pounder in the world today.
At yesterday's official weigh-in, Calderon weighed in at 106-? lbs, while Mayol checked in at 106-? lbs.
The diminutive Calderon (32-0, 6KO), often criticized for engaging in trackfest instead of wars inside the ring, will be making the fourth defense of the junior flyweight crown he wrested from Hugo Cazares two years ago. The win came after a long reign in the 105-lb ranks, where Calderon was virtually untouchable earning for himself the description as the world's best pure boxer.
Mayol (25-3, 19KO's) will be attempting to win a world crown for the third time, having previously lost to then WBC minimumweight champ Eagle Kyowa (L-UD12 in May 2006) and Ulises Solis (L-TKO8 in August 2007).
After several weeks of training at the famed Wild Card Gym of BWAA Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach, Mayol feels that this time, he will have a much better chance at winning the title.
The Mandaue City-raised Mayol, at Thursday's press conference, pointed out that Calderon is often involved in boring fights, but assured fans that there will not be a lull in their fight today.
Expected to work Mayol's corner today is Roach's sidekick Buboy Fernandez, who is also superstar Manny Pacquiao's Filipino trainer.
Pacquiao, who manages Mayol, will be at special ringside for today's fight, having received the BWAA Fighter of the Year award yesterday in New York.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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