MAYOL NEARING PERFECT FORM FOR IBF BOUT
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Jul 2007
IBF-ranked Rodel Mayol is nearing perfect form for his August 4 challenge against IBF junior flyweight king Ulises Solis at the AllState Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
The bout will be on the undercard of the Erik Morales-David Diaz WBC lightweight title bout dubbed 'War for 4" in obvious reference to Morales' quest for a fourth world title.
Mayol, in an interview, has revealed that he has already sparred more than 70 rounds in preparation for Solis at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas under the watchful eyes of trainer Kenny Adams.
"I'm still in the hard-training phase of my preparation," Mayol said from Las Vegas.
Adams once trained the late Diego 'Chico' Corrales, one of the most exciting fighters of his generation. Corrales was killed last May following a motorcycle accident in a Las Vegas highway.
Mayol said that he has already seen a tape of Solis' previous fight, and that he is not at all cowed by the champion's abilities.
"He's good, and has power, but I'm better and I know i can handle his style," Mayol said. Mayol stays in an apartment near the Top Rank gym, and walks daily to the gym for his training.
"To my fans in the Philippines I hope they will include me in their prayers so I will be in perfect condition on fight day for me to win the belt for the country. Please extend my regards to my wife and son," Mayol stated.
If victorious, Mayol will join IBF champions Florante Condes and Nonito Donaire as the country's world title-holders.
Condes became the first world champion since 2001 when he took the IBF minimumweight title in Jakarta last July 7. The following day, in the US, Donaire took the IBF flyweight crown with a shock fifth-round annihilation of the mouthy Vic Darchinyan.
Another Filipino, Czar Amonsot, goes up for the WBA crown on July 21, so if victorious, the country would then have four world champions in what will be considered the greatest moment for Philippine boxing.
Three more fighters -- Rey Bautista, Gerry Penalosa and Yukka Gejon -- are also set to battle it out for world title belts in August and September.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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