Mayol Lands in Puerto Rico for Tough Mission
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Sep 2009
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO—Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol arrived with his three-man crew here yesterday to commence final preparations for his tough challenge against local boy and champion Ivan Calderon on Saturday at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in Hato Rey, here.
After a grueling nine-hour flight from Los Angeles via Miami, Mayol and his team members settled down and rested to prepare for the final leg of his mission to take away the belt of Calderon, who will surely enjoy a huge crowd support.
“I know that everyone will go up against me and everyone will cheer Calderon’s every move in the ring. But come fight night, it will just be me and him and nobody will be able to help him out,” said the 28-year-old Mayol, who is vying for his fourth shot at a world title.
“I have prepared hard against Calderon and I expect him to come to the fight on a bicycle. Even if he runs all night, we have prepared a game plan to neutralize his running abilities. If he decides to fight and face me mano-a-mano and become his hometown’s hero, then I would welcome the challenge,” added Mayol, 25-3-1.
It will be the second meeting between Mayol and Calderon. Their first match last June in Madison Square Garden ended in a technical draw after an accidental headbutt opened up a gash on the champion’s forehead.
“I know how dirty Calderon fights when he initiates head contact and I hope nothing like that will happen again,” said Mayol, who trained with Freddie Roach and Jesus Arevalo at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles for six weeks.
Prior to Calderon’s fight with Mayol, he also got a disputed seventh round technical decision win over Hugo Cazares in Bayamon, also in Puerto Rico. Incidentally, Calderon’s headbutt wound was also at the same spot when he faced Mayol for the World Boxing Organization light flyweight title.
“We are in high spirits and my weight is in check, no problem. I know it will take a lot of effort for me to win the title in Calderon’s backyard and against a hometown crowd, but I have faith in God that we will come out victorious in the end,” said Mayol, who was still three pounds overweight.
“I just hope Calderon comes in to fight on Saturday. I have watched his fight with Cazares and all he did was run all night but still, he got the win by decision. At any rate, I am prepared to face him whether we run a marathon or fight toe-to-toe. He claims he is the best pure boxer out there, I hope he comes in and prove it,” added Mayol.
WBO super featherweight title-holder Roman “Rocky” Martinez (22-0-1, 13 KOs) makes his first title defense in the 12-round co-feature WBO No. 9 rated Vincente Martin “El Mono” Rodriguez (25-2-1, 13 KOs).
“Undefeated Champions” is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/PT on cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand and DirecTV for a suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
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