THE MAYOL TITLE DEFENSE - WHAT A MISSED OPPORTUNITY!
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 Apr 2010
If news reports prove solid, Rodel Mayol, the WBC Light Flyweight Champion, is scheduled to defend his crown for the second time somewhere in Mexico on June 19th.
Actually, that is not a bad thing at all because it is a great opportunity for Mayol to really show people that he can win in Mexico.
Clearly however, it was a missed opportunity for the powers that be in Philippine boxing to showcase another Filipino champion in his own country.
These people could have easily bid to make the fight in the Philippines instead of Mexico because there was no specific contract indicating that the re-match between Mayol and the challenger, Omar Nino Romero need to happen in Mexico.
Mayol last defended his crown against Omar Nino Romero at Guadalajara, Mexico. That fight ended in a ?technical draw? because Nino threw an illegal late punch that knocked?out Mayol.
Mauricio Sulaiman, the WBC Vice-President who was supervising the fight, declared the fight a ?technical draw? over-riding a ruling that Nino won by KO and necessitating a re-match. But as previously stated there was no stipulation that the fight must happen in Mexico.
Philippine entities could have given a bid to get the fight in the Philippines. Since no one did, then WBC must accept the bid from Mexico.
Mayol fights under the banner of Manny Pacquiao Promotions. As everyone knows, Pacquiao is now in the middle of a campaign for a congressional seat in the Philippines. Thus all the energy of everyone hooked up with him are channeled to that political activity, including I assume people dealing with the MP Promotions, Michael Koncz included.
Thus it was easy just to let the fight happen in Mexico this time around and if Mayol wins perhaps then his next defense can happen in the Philippines. For now, the Pacquiao people are too far busy with the elections to spend energy and resources to get a Mayol title defense in the Philippines
I for one cannot blame the Pacquiao people for focusing on the elections. But the busy schedule of the Pacquiao people should have been taken advantaged by others who have no problem coming up with the ability, experience and resources to put together a fight in the Philippines. There?s ABS-CBN , there?s Solar Sports and there?s GMA. Where are these people when we need them most? And, where the heck is Pacquiao?s buddy, promoter Wakee Salud?
My best guess is that a Mayol-Nino fight which falls under the lower weight class (junior flyweight) will not generate much revenue at least to the level expected by the giant TV conglomerates. Thus, it does not even merit a look. And, big sponsors do not like to be involved in low revenue events. Thus, the ?big boys? did not bother to lift a finger and get the fight in the Philippines. What a way to respect a champion!
Mayol maybe a world champion, but he is not a Pacquiao who can generate huge revenues.
Truthfully, no one can blame these corporations for their non-action. After all, TV is a big business and if an event may not generate huge returns then if becomes a no-event.
But, what ever happened to nationalism and pride for one?s country. I guess that goes down the drain too when revenues can?t support it, huh?
What a missed opportunity!
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