MAYOL: “I WILL BE IN BEST SHAPE EVER”
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 03 Sep 2009
LOS ANGELES -- We had an opportunity to witness Rodel Mayol’s training session at the Wildcard Gym this afternoon, thanks largely to Coach Freddie Roach and the Team Mayol who allowed us access to the ringside and take photos of the training.
The gym was unusually crowded today. There were fighters from all over the world training as well as a mix of local fighters from the LA area and places beyond. Clearly, the gym is the place to be if one wants to achieve fame and fortune a wee bit faster. There is never a shortage of sparring partners in almost any weight class. They were all there, the big and small.
Coach Roach was as usual in his favorite corner of the ring giving instructions to the different boxers he was training, one after the other.
When Mayol’s time came, he sparred for 6 rounds. Six good rounds in fact.
He first exchanged leathers with the ex-Olympian from Cuba, Guillermo Rigondeaux who is a super bantamweight. Mayol was able to hold his own despite the weight difference. The Cuban was a nice choice as a sparmate as he was about the same height at Ivan Calderon. And, he was fast as well.
Then came a sparmate in Gapo Tolmajian (sp) who appears to be a super bantamweight as well.
Mayol was able to hold his own exchanging bombs after bombs with the bigger Armenian.
The last two rounds were with a Brazilian fighter who is a fixture at the Wildcard Gym.
His exchanges with Mayol were fast and furious particularly the ringing body shots.
From our perspective Mayol appears to be in very good shape judging from the body shots he took so well from the heavier Brazilian boxer.
While waiting for Mayol’s turn up the ring to spar under the eagle eyes of Freddie Roach, we had a opportunity to talk to him. Mayol indicated to us his awareness of the importance of his coming fight. “Bihira lang ito Doc, kaya ibibigay ko na lahat ang kaya ko para manalo tayo.” (This is once in a life time opportunity so I am giving it all so we will win), Mayol said to us.
“Maganda and kundision ko ngayon, mas maganda pa nung una kaming naglaban” (I am in good condition, better than when we first fought) Mayol followed. “ At mas malakas ako ngayon” (and I feel stronger too). He also stated that “ I will be in the best shape ever.
Indeed, from what we saw later during his sparring, Mayol is stronger. Otherwise he would not have been able to sustain the heavy exchanges from three different sparmates, who were visibly bigger than him.
Mayol plans to break camp over the week- end and plans to leave for Puerto Rico next Tuesday, September 8th to have time to acclimatize to the weather and the environment.
Top photo: Rodel Mayol (R) spars with Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba at Roach's (watching) Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
Mayol (R) ducks during sparring with Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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