MAYOL HAS NO PROBLEM WITH WEIGHT, SAYS HE'S READY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 11 Jun 2009
US-based Filipino Rodel Mayol yesterday informed that he is in perfect weight for his battle on Saturday (Sunday in RP) against WBO light flyweight king Ivan Calderon at the Madison Square Garden.
In an interview yesterday, Mayol told this writer that he is now at 108 lbs, with still a few more days left before the fight.
"My weight is now 108. I'm now in New York, in fact I've already seen Calderon here at the hotel," Mayol told this writer in a long-distance interview from his hotel room at the Affinia Hotel in New York.
Mayol arrived in New York accompanied by Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez and friends Prem Encarnacion, Rene "Bestfriend" Espiritu, and Wild Card Gym's Jesse Arevalo.
"I have sparred about 110 rounds in preparation for this fight. Maybe this time, I can win the title," Mayol said, knowing fully well the daunting task ahead of him against the unbeaten world champion from Puerto Rico.
The Mayol-Calderon showdown will be the chief support when WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto defends against Joshua Clottey in the main event of a card presented by Top Rank.
Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao was originally scheduled to be at special ringside for the event, although reports indicate he has chosen to forego the trip to spend time with his family.
Mayol's two previous attempts at the world title have been heartaches to the Mandaue City fighter, losing to Eagle Kyowa for the WBC title in 2006 via close unanimous decision, and then getting knocked out by Ulises Solis for the IBF crown a year later.
Calderon has indicated that after he takes care of Mayol, he'll target IBF champ Brian Viloria next for a unification showdown.
?I don?t know too much about him (Mayol) except that he is 5?4 and he has a strong left hand," Calderon told the media the other day.
Asked for his game plan, Calderon said he wants ?to fight my normal game and box intelligently round by round."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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