Mandaue City native Rodel Mayol has the tools to follow in Manny Pacquiao?s footsteps. By no means am I saying that he?s the next Manny Pacquiao or that he is on that level. No. Just like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, there will never be another Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines. With all honestly however, Mayol has what it takes to be a world champion in the light flyweight division. Mayol will be fighting one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world in Ivan Calderon in the main undercard of the Cotto-Clottey match at the Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday.
Don?t get me wrong, based on what I?ve seen in his previous performances, I definitely feel Mayol still has a ways to go if he wants to truly be considered one of the best, but he has made the necessary steps towards the right direction. Since Manny PAcquiao picked up his fighting contract, Mayol has been training at the Wild Card Gym with Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez and did a total of 110 rounds of sparring for this fight. Mayol is as ready as he could be and has been in proper shape and weight. Mayol?s previous losses against Ulises Solis and Adrian Hernandez have been attributed to the lack of proper training that saw him fading towards the end of the fights. Both losses came in the form of knockouts which have led people to question his heart and dedication as a pugilist.
Don?t write him off just yet.
There?s something about Mayol that tells me he can do it this time around. Ivan Calderon is definitely a tall order, but styles make fights. Mayol has knockout power and with the proper training and under the tutelage of Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez and Manny Pacquiao, Calderon might very well be in the fight of his life. Surely, if Mayol loses this bout, opportunities like this will probably not present itself again. Desperation does wonders for a motivated person, and this has been the most motivated Mayol has ever been.
What remains to be seen is whether Mayol can learn from his previous losses; whether he can apply and cash in on the countless hours of training and preparation when it truly counts inside the ring on Saturday. As reported by Salven Lagumbay of Philboxing.com, Mayol has told the media that he will be the aggressor and went as far as criticizing Calderon?s fights as boring.
?I would like to thank Top Rank for giving me the opportunity to fight at Madison Square Garden. This is my 3rd time fighting for a title and I?m going to try my best to win this fight. Everyone knows Ivan Calderon is a good boxer but many say his fights are boring. I will ensure that on Saturday night this fight will not be boring,” Mayol said.
Calderon shot back at Mayol?s statement saying
?He may say my fights are boring because you are used to see boxers hit and I?m never getting hit. I know it?s going to be a good fight. They trained and I trained hard for this fight. My style is hit, don?t get hit and go back home with no marks,”
Calderon boasts of an undefeated record of 32-0 but only has 6 KOs under his belt. Mayol on the other hand has retired 19 out his 25 conquered adversaries within regulation. This will be another classic case of boxer vs. puncher, although Mayol can box as well. Potential, skill and talent can only get you so far. With Manny Pacquiao ringside cheering him on, and Team Pacquiao helping him along the way, maybe, just maybe Mayol can finally pull it all together.
D Source believes: Mayol wins via KO in round 7 or 8.
