RODEL MAYOL BREAKS CAMP, LEAVES FOR MEXICO SUNDAY
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Feb 2010
LOS ANGELES -- Rodel Mayol, looking fit and ready to go, had his final training today at the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood under the watchful eyes of his trainer, the amiable Jesse Arevalo and assistant trainer Morai Quijano, a former trainer from the ALA Gym in Cebu who is now based in Los Angeles.
Mayol sparred for the last time yesterday for 4 rounds as he tapered his training. Today, just before breaking camp, he went 8 rounds hitting the mitts held by Jesse Arevalo.
“He looks very good and Jesse and I are very satisfied with the effort he gave for the last several weeks,” Quijano stated.
“I am ready and I feel really good about this fight,” Mayol told this writer, “and I intend to bring back the belt with me. It will take a whole lot for Nino to take it away because I prepared hard, harder than ever before.”
Mayol, Quijano and Arevalo will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico early Sunday morning, Feb 21st (LA Time). That should give Mayol enough time to acclimate and feel comfortable with the place. The fight venue was supposed to be in Mexico City but the promoters moved it to Guadalajara.
Mayol (26-4-1, 20 KO) faces Omar Nino Romero (28-3-1, 11KO) at the Coliseo Olympico in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on Saturday night, February 27th. Nino hails from the town, therefore effectively giving him the hometown advantage. The fight will be for the WBC Junior Lightweight belt owned by Mayol.
“He is a local boy therefore he will be at ease fighting before his friends and family. But he needs more than that to win because when the bell rings, it will be just him against Mayol in the ring,” Quijano said.
Team Mayol suspects that the venue was changed to give Nino a psychological advantage but that does not bother them at all. “We fought and won the title in their turf so it really does not make much of a difference if we have to defend it in the home town of Nino,” Mayol said. “Besides, that is part of the clause we signed with the promoter. They have the choice of venue. However, next time around, I would love to have it in the Philippines to show my fans how I appreciated their support.”
Hometown advantage should really be no problem. As Donnie Nietes has shown a couple of times, the venue doesn’t matter much if one is focused and ready to do battle. Nietes fought two title fights in Mexico and both times came out victorious. He beat Erik Ramirez by UD and Manuel Vargas by a split decision.
Team Mayol has confidence in the fairness of the WBC and the promoters. “I hope they will pick neutral judges and a non-Mexican referee like they did at Tuxla Gutierrez, in Chiapas, Mexico when we won the title. But if they don’t, we will just go with the flow and hopefully the judges scores will not be needed for us to win.”
This writer who will serve as the cutman for Mayol and Lira Mayol will join the Team on Thursday in time for the weigh-in on Friday afternoon, Feb 26th.
Top photo: Team Mayol poses at Wildcard Gym in Hollywood after breaking camp Saturday, (L-R): Morai Quijano, Mayol, Jessie Arevalo and Dr Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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