CEBUANO WBC rated No.3 Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol of Stonewall Boxing Stable kept his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimumweight title after breezing through a seventh round technical decision win over ex-WBC International titlist Ernesto Rubillar in the headliner of the glitzy “Live Match” show at The Fort’s NBC Tent in Forbes Park, Makati City. Despite being hobbled by flu the past eight days, the WBA No.6 and IBF ranked No.10 Mayol showed big fighting heart to pummel Rubillar on all corners from the outset until the stoppage. He even floored Rubillar in the second round, but the latter got up deftly to beat the count. As Mayol continued his relentless attack, Rubillar at times threw some dirty tactics to parry the onslaught that eventually resulted into an ugly head-butt that opened a gaping gash on Mayol’s right eyebrow in the seventh session. Blood profusely flowed out of Mayol’s cut, forcing GAB ringside physician Nasser Cruz to intervene and halt the match during that fateful round. The cut needed several stitches to close. Thus, the 22-year-old Mayol was declared as winner by technical decision as he was leading by wide margins in all the judges’ scorecards, thereby raising his unbeaten streak to 18-0 dotted with 14KOs. In the supporting main event, another undefeated Stonewall star Benedict Suico beat Jongjong Gagante via a controversial majority decision over 10 heats. Suico floored Gagante twice, but the Cebuano visitor was also knocked down once. Stonewall Boxing Club manager Joy Ouano, however, argued that it was an “illegal blow” that sent Suico down at the seat of his pants. Judges Alex Villacampa and Ver Abainza penned the bout at 78-73 and 79-72, respectively, for Suico, but Richard Flores surprisingly scored it 74-74. “His (Flores) judgement was very questionable. Suico was way ahead in the scores of the two judges then how come he scored a draw?We are bent on filing a protest before the GAB for that matter because we could not tolerate this obvious mistake,” said Ouano. Also, Stonewall prized catch Mercito Gesta won by majority decision over Sherwin Daguhoy, while Wyndel Janiola’s comeback fight was cancelled as Janiola reportedly suffered an LBM (loose bowel movement).
