MAYOL-KYOWA WBC TIFF ON MAY 8
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 11 Feb 2006
Undefeated World Boxing Council no. 1 minimumweight Rodel "Batang Mandaue" Mayol will finally get his cherished dream of a world title fight as he challenges WBC minimumweight champ Eagle Kyowa on May 8 in Japan.
The 24-year-old Mayol (22-0, 17 KO's), who holds the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation 105-lb title, arrived the other day from Japan, and immediately informed this writer that although the May 8 date is still tentative, organizers are looking at it with zeal.
The 27-year-old Kyowa (15-1, 6 KO's), had won the WBC 105-lb title in 2004, defended it once before surrendering it to Mexican no-hoper Isaac Bustos on a fourth-round TKO owin to an arm injury. He regained the title with a decision win over Katsunari Takayama last year, and has successfully defended it last January 9 with a seventh-round TKO over Ken Nakajima, who was himself beaten up by Mayol back in 2001.
"The plan is for me to fight Eagle on May 8, but my management team, with the help of GAB Chairman Eric Buhain, will send a counter-offer to Kyowa's camp that the fight will be held here in the Philippines," Mayol said yesterday in an interview with this writer.
Buhain was at special ringside when Mayol took on Mexican Lorenzo Trejo in Cancun, Mexico, stopping the latter in the fourth-round of their scheduled 12-round eliminator. The GAB Chairman expressed surprise Mayol ended the fight too easily, but said the fighter has what it takes to become the next Manny Pacquiao.
Kyowa's camp, according to Mayol, is vigorously pushing for a May 8 fight in Japan, although his manager, Yasuo Matsuoka who is married to a Filipina, wants to bring the fight to the country.
"My manager is arriving tomorrow, and he will then start discussing the possibility of holding the fight here," Mayol added.
Should the fight happen in the Philippines, there are plans to hold it at the Araneta Coliseum, as both Nene Araneta, the owner of the Big Dome, and Viva Sports owner Vic Del Rosario, are both reportedly eager to host the event.
Mayol is expected to be back in the gym on Monday, as he starts preparing for the mammoth war with Eagle Kyowa, a Thai national now based in Japan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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