MAYOL: NO FIGHT VS WEIGH-IN CHEATER MARQUEZ; STANDOFF IN MEXICO CONTINUES TO RAGE
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 24 Mar 2012
SONORA, Mexico--Rodel Mayol will not fight Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, who clearly cheated his way in order to make weight Friday afternoon in full view of witnesses and a partisan crowd that saw a magic show unfold instead of watching justice given to boxing's oldest rule of fair play.
Stepping up the scales clearly two pounds overweight in his first attempt as seen by World Boxing Association (WBA) officials, who are sanctioning this flyweight title fight, Marquez tried to make weight by doing every trick in the book.
Marquez held on to the scales on his first try, a no-no procedure that was first seen by the WBA representative. Mayol's trainer, Raides "Nonoy" Neri, claimed that the WBA rep, a certain bald and aging guy still unnamed as of this writing, admonished Marquez on his first attempt to cheat.
Promoter Sean Gibbons, manager Michael Koncz, cut man Jessie Estrada and many others saw Marquez fail a second time, even stripping down fully naked. Still, Marquez tried to hold on to the top part of the weighing scale as Neri vehemently protested. On his third attempt in a span of less than a minute, Marquez still failed to make the 112-pound limit, still two pounds overweight.
MAGIC TRICK
Then came the magic trick. A handful of Marquez's team members came on stage, draped Marquez with a towel while blocking the WBA official's view. Neri was also boxed out but he saw Marquez's other foot touch the ground. All of a sudden, everyone started to rejoice like a miracle had just transpired and Marquez finally made weight without any effort.
The WBA official approved the weigh-in despite the howling protests of the Filipino's camp even as Marquez started to gulp in fluids, to complete the escape act and never had to suffer more by trying to lose weight.
"We have decided not to fight to serve notice that not everything in this world can be bought by money. We fight with our principles and that fair play should always be above anything else," said Mayol, who stands to leave Mexico penniless and without any payment.
Koncz, who was earlier interviewed by mediamen as to have supported Mayol's move of not fighting in the main event, suddenly came up with extra money, apparently offered by the Mexican camp in order to assuage and cajole Mayol into fighting an overweight opponent in a sold-out arena in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
"If they can cheat us on the scales, how much more can they do on top of the ring? I came here very ready to fight and knock Marquez out, but this is not right. We seek justice and an immediate investigation," added Mayol.
EMPTY THREATS
Koncz, who was first supportive of Mayol, later on came up with counter-offers like using the International Boxing Federation (IBF) rules of weigh-in, just to make the fight happen. Apparently, an additional $10,000 was coughed up and added to Mayol's purse in order to convince him to fight.
Mayol stands not to receive anything from the same people who cheated him because he refused to fight a champion who will come to the fight with a kilo of extra weight.
Mayol was also advised that he may not be able to fight in Mexico anymore because of his action and decision of not showing up on fight night Saturday. Koncz said that Fernando Beltran, honcho of Zanfer Promotions, decides on who fights or who doesn't get a shot at Mexican fighters and its home-grown champions.
Despite Marquez's inability to make weight, the WBA apparently will not strip Marquez of his title, as they ruled in haste that Marquez, in the fastest sleight of hand (and feet), apparently made the contracted weight.
NO CONTRACT
Like many fights by Filipinos in Mexico, Mayol's fight also lacked one of the most important prerequisites--a fight contract.
Before accepting to challenge Marquez, Mayol agreed to the verbal agreement that he will receive $25,000 from Koncz. Upon arriving in Los Angeles for the final push, he was told that he would be getting only $20,000 as purse. Cash strapped and believing that he will win his fight with Marquez anway, Mayol still accepted the terms.
Like in the Muhammad Ali Act used in the United States to protect boxers from exploitation by scheming individuals and promoters, Mayol has not been presented options and given the mathematical computation on TV earnings, alone. The fight was supposed to be shown on TV Azteca.
As of this writing, the promoters have not presented Mayol a fight contract.
PACQUIAO TO THE RESCUE
Mayol's decision of not fighting under unfair terms and circumstances has been supported by no less than boxing's pound-for-pound champion and MP Promotions head Manny Pacquiao.
"I respect the decision of Mayol when he decided not to fight Marquez. If we will fight for principles, I will join Mayol in his battle," said Pacquiao.
To commiserate with Mayol, Pacquiao promised his fighter and compatriot of a fight in his own undercard, where Pacquiao is to face Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Another Filipino, Richie Mepranum, will fight without a contract, supposedly as main supporting bout to the Marquez-Mayol championship fight. Mepranum, highly-rated in all of the major boxing governing bodies, faces up-and-coming Juan Francisco Estrada. Both fighters made weight and needed no magic trick as they collide for the NABF flyweight title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.
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