CEBU, Philippines – “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Cebuano boxer Rodel Mayol is the best epitome of this timeless maxim by the great Chinese philosopher Confucius.
After he failed four times at a world title shot, Mayol did not wallow in despair. Instead, he fought back with a renewed vigor and confidence. He viewed his frustrations life as a challenge and eventually his ladder to success.
In his fifth try, lady luck finally smiled at Mayol as the spirited “Batang Mandaue” dethroned Mexican Edgar Sosa via a smashing second round stoppage to snatch the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title last November 21 at the Palenque de la Feria in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.
Mayol, thus, became the first Cebuano world boxing titlist in nine years since Malcolm Tu?acao, also from Mandaue City, grabbed the WBC flyweight crown with a seventh round TKO of Medgeon Singsurat on May 19, 2000 at the Srimnang Outdoor Arena in Udon Thani, Thailand.
“I still can’t believe that I’m a world champion now,” said Mayol over lunch at a Chinese restaurant in Mango Square.
Despite he was struck with a string of heart-rending defeats laced with stingy calls by his critics for him to retire, Mayol did not lose hope nor entertain the thought of hanging up his gloves. Not yet, at this point of time.
“Even though I failed four times already in a world title fight, I did not think of giving up. It is really my dream to win a world title and I won’t stop from chasing that dream until I achieve it. I strongly feel deep within me that I will become a world champion someday and I’m very happy now that I fulfilled it,” said Mayol in Cebuano.
Aside from Divine providence, Mayol counted his manager Manny Pacquiao among his powerful source of strength and inspiration.
“Manny Pacquiao inspires me a lot. More so after he won against Miguel Cotto in a very impressive manner,” said Mayol, who tagged along with him his lovely wife Lira, an operations representative at a jewelry store in Los Angeles where they are now based.
After gracing the weekly SCOOP-Cebu forum yesterday at Baseline Restaurant, Mayol then headed to the Mandaue City Hall to pay a courtesy call on Mayor Jonas Cortes.
“Mayol is a pride of the Mandauehanons. We want to inspire our youth to follow in his footsteps. We will tap him to encourage the young ones to become productive individuals through sports,” said Cortes moments after turning over a P50,000 cash incentive to Mayol.
Mayol said his next fight would be a mandatory defense against Omar Nino Romero of Mexico although he hopes to be included in the undercard of the proposed Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather superfight on March 13 with no confirmed venue.
“I really hope to be part of that historic event. That would be a great honor. But I still have to talk with Manny Pacquiao regarding his immediate plan for me,” said Mayol, who shot into fame under the wings of Tony Aldeguer’s ALA Boxing Gym.
Looking back at his career path, it was a meandering journey for Mayol before he scaled the summit of success. Now that he’s basking in the glow of crowning glory, the 28-year-old father of two braces for a tougher challenge ahead with a positive outlook.
“Being a world champion does not entail overconfidence. There’s a lot of work for me to do ahead. I want to keep this belt for as long as I possibly could,” said Mayol while letting loose a flashbulb smile. (FREEMAN NEWS)
