FORMER world champion Rodel Mayol finally gets to fight a Mexican at home and tomorrow morning, Mayol won?t be worrying about hostile fans as the crowd will be behind him.
?I?m very happy that I?m facing a Mexican here in the Philippines, because here, the fans will be cheering for me,? Mayol told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Mayol is facing fellow former world champion Julio Cesar Miranda in a 10-round non-title bout in the co-main event of ?Island Assault 4? at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
After a light workout yesterday, Mayol tipped the scales at 115 for his super flyweight bout and is ready to go with just two days left before the big day.
Despite being a non-title bout, Mayol feels that this is one of the biggest fights of his career because it will dictate if he deserves another world title shot.
?This fight is one of the hardest. Anytime I will be able to fight (Hernan) ?Tyson? Marquez if I win this,? he said.
Title fight
According to the Mandaue City native, he will be given a title shot if he beats the 31-year-old Miranda, a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight titleholder with a slate of 37-6-1 with 19 knockouts.
It would be against either the winner of the WBO flyweight bout between Filipino-Hawaiian Brian Viloria and Omar Ni?o Romero, which will be the main event this Sunday morning, or the winner of the July 23 World Boxing Association flyweight clash between Marquez and Arden Diale.
Although the boxer called ?Batang Mandaue? has had his share of wars in a long career that has spanned almost 12 years, he still believes that he still has a lot of time to once again be a world champion.
?I think I still have a long career. I feel great. I don?t have vices and I get enough rest,? said Mayol. ?At this moment, I?m still at the peak of my career.?
Mayol also fought but lost to Romero by unanimous decision on June 10, 2010 in Mexico.
