SARDINAS DE TUXTLA - AN ANECDOTE ABOUT THE SOSA-MAYOL WEIGHT-IN
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 21 Nov 2009
Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico:- A funny thing happened at the weigh-in day today for the Sosa-Mayol WBC Minimum weight title fight tomorrow in this city.
First, Team Mayol was told to be ready for the weigh-in for an 11:00 am pick-up at the Holiday Inn where most of the boxers and the WBC staff are booked.
Thus, the Team was up early and except for Mayol, everyone had a nice breakfast so that we can make the 11:00 am pick-up time.
While hanging out at the hotel lobby waiting for everyone, we were amazed that there was nobody there except us.
Luckily, Eric Buhain walked by and asked us what we were doing. We of course told him we were waiting to be picked up for the weigh in. It was then that Buhain told us that the pick-up time is 1:00PM.
Thus, we all went back to our rooms and just killed time watching US programs on TV dubbed in Spanish.
At exactly 1:30 we went down to the lobby and checked if indeed people are ready to roll. They were not. So we just hanged out there.
The bus did not come until later and it was fully loaded in a flash with all the other participants on the fight card leaving us with no space. Thus we had to sit and waited some more for our ride to the venue.
Finally, a man from Boxeo de Gala, the promotions company came and told us they found a ride for the 5 of us on the Team Mayol.
It was a taxi.
The taxi that came for us was a small VW Passat that seats 4 comfortably, driver included. We did not have a choice but to take the ride. Jesse Arevalo sat on the front passenger side and Mayol, his wife Lira and Jeremiah Quijano, and this writer sat at the back seat.
“Para tayong sardinas ditto ah” Mayol said. And, I added, “Sardinas de Tuxtla”.
The ride to the venue up in the hillside took almost 40 minutes with the traffic.
Poor Mayol was so uncomfortable during the whole ride.
We just calm him down by saying that it’s okay to be uncomfortable now and be mad. Then just pour on all the emotions tomorrow on Sosa.
The weigh in was held under a tent erected at the main plaza of Chiapa de Gorzo, another town located about 8 kilometers from Tuxtla Gutierrez. With a sneer, Quijano who is still smarting from the crowded ride in a small VW to the venue said- “Talong mag pa-weigh-in ang mga Pinoy”. Obviously Quijano is referring to the orderly manner the ALA and the SGG Promotions do their thing at Cebu.
Within two minutes of our arrival, they started the weigh-in for Sosa and Mayol. The small stage under the tent was full of people- the boxers, officials and their seconds.
And it was far from being stable. There were some photographers crowding around too.
Sosa stepped on the scales first and he hit 49kg. As soon as they announced his weight, he stepped off in a hurry. Mayol had no problem making 49kg.
After the weight-in Mayol was fed the hot bulalo and rice freshly made by Quijano and plenty of fresh cut fruits all downed with two bottles of Gatorade.
Moments later, he had the “ceremonial” medical exams by the ring doctor which took less than three minutes and then met the press, had some photos with the fans.
We stayed at the place for over an hour doing that “obligatory” stuff and after which we had to wait another 40 minutes for our ride back to the hotel.
Luckily this time, they gave us a Chevy Suburban but still there were nine of us on the SUV. Three guys from the promotions company joined in. But it was far better than the VW we took going to the event.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 21 Apr 2025Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 20 Apr 2025MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
Sun, 20 Apr 2025Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
Sun, 20 Apr 2025FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Apr 2025Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025