MAYOL YIELDS TITLE

Romero (left) and Mayol in action

FILIPINO Rodel Mayol failed to settle a score with Omar Nino Romero after yielding his World Boxing Council (WBC) junior flyweight title Sunday in San Jual del Rio in Queretaro, Mexico.


The 28-year old pride of Mandaue City dominated the 12-round fight early on, but faded in the later rounds to lose by unanimous decision.

Two of the judges scored the bout close, 115-112 and 115-111, while the other had the Mexican surprisingly winning by a wide margin, 117-109.

Mayol was looking for redemption against the same Mexican foe as their first bout ended up in a controversial third round technical draw after a Romero left hook knocked out the Filipino, who initially got hit by a low blow.

Mayol was carried out of the ring on a stretcher, but managed to retain his title after WBC officials deliberated on the matter.

This time, no such issue could save the day for him.

In a match filled with headbutts, Mayol failed to capitalize as Romero had bad cuts over both eyes as the result of a series of head clashes, prompting the fight to be stopped several times for the ring physician to check on the challenger.

But the turning point came in the eight round when two thundering left hooks staggered Mayol, sending the packed crowd in a frenzy amidst chants of Mexico! Mexico!

While Mayol managed to hold on and finish the round, Romero took control from there on his way to regaining the WBC title belt he once held.

Romero improved to 29-3, with 11 KOs as he became a two-time world champion after also winning the 108-pound crown in 2006 with a unanimous decision over another Filipino, Brian Viloria.

For Mayol, the loss was his second in his last five fights, a stretch that also included two draws, and a win over Mexican Edgar Sosa to snatch the WBC championship.

His record now stands at 26-5, with 20 KOS.

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MAYOL TO SETTLE UNFINISH BUSINESS

Mayol (left) and Romero in Saturday's weigh-in

RODEL Mayol hopes to settle an unfinished business with Omar Nino Romero as the two get it on again for the second time this year for the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title.

The 12-round rematch is set Sunday at the Site Bullring Exhibitor in San Juan Del Rio, Mexico.

The two first fought in February in a title fight that ended in a controversial third round technical draw.

During that February 27 match in Guadalajara, Mexico, Romero hit Mayol with a low blow during an exchange in the third round, and while the reigning champion was waiting for the referee to step in, the Mexican threw a left hook on the Filipino that knocked him out cold.

Mayol was later carried out of the ring on a stretcher amidst the frenzy in Romero’s corner.

But the celebration turned out to be premature as WBC officials deliberated on the matter and declared the fight a technical draw, allowing Mayol to retain his title belt.

This time, Mayol is making sure he’ll emerge as the clear winner.

“I feel very strong and very sure that I will beat Omar Nino clearly,” said the 28-year old champion, a native of Mandaue, Cebu but now resides in Los Angeles, California.

Wearing a ripped-off short that has the words `Viva Mexico’ printed on it, Mayol easily tipped the scale at 108 pounds during Saturday’s official weigh-in held outdoor just beside an old Catholic church.

Romero also came in at 108 pounds, but obviously struggle a bit to make the weight limit.

“All is well,” he said later. “I’ll recover a bit and go tomorrow to recover what is mine. This belt will remain here and Mayol will return to the Philippines with empty hands.

“I just want to knock Rodel Mayol out.”

Making the second defense of the title he won via a second round technical knockout of Edgar Sosa last November, Mayol has a 26-4 record with 20 knockouts.

Romero, 34, is 28-3, with 11 KOs. He is best remembered as the conqueror of Filipino champion Brian Viloria and Juanito Rubillar.

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MAYOL TO SETTLE UNFINISH BUSINESS

RODEL Mayol hopes to settle an unfinished business with Omar Nino Romero as the two get it on again for the second time this year for the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title.

The 12-round rematch is set Sunday at the Site Bullring Exhibitor in San Juan Del Rio, Mexico.

The two first fought in February in a title fight that ended in a controversial third round technical draw.

During that February 27 match in Guadalajara, Mexico, Romero hit Mayol with a low blow during an exchange in the third round, and while the reigning champion was waiting for the referee to step in, the Mexican threw a left hook on the Filipino that knocked him out cold.

Mayol was later carried out of the ring on a stretcher amidst the frenzy in Romero’s corner.

But the celebration turned out to be premature as WBC officials deliberated on the matter and declared the fight a technical draw, allowing Mayol to retain his title belt.

This time, Mayol is making sure he’ll emerge as the clear winner.

“I feel very strong and very sure that I will beat Omar Nino clearly,” said the 28-year old champion, a native of Mandaue, Cebu but now resides in Los Angeles, California.

Wearing a ripped-off short that has the words `Viva Mexico’ printed on it, Mayol easily tipped the scale at 108 pounds during Saturday’s official weigh-in held outdoor just beside an old Catholic church.

Romero also came in at 108 pounds, but obviously struggle a bit to make the weight limit.

“All is well,” he said later. “I’ll recover a bit and go tomorrow to recover what is mine. This belt will remain here and Mayol will return to the Philippines with empty hands.

“I just want to knock Rodel Mayol out.”

Making the second defense of the title he won via a second round technical knockout of Edgar Sosa last November, Mayol has a 26-4 record with 20 knockouts.

Romero, 34, is 28-3, with 11 KOs. He is best remembered as the conqueror of Filipino champion Brian Viloria and Juanito Rubillar.

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MONGOLIA OUT, MACAU WANTS IN

THE six-nation Manny V. Pangilinan Friendship Cup set July 14-19 at the P.I.C.C. Forum will be the barometer of the competence of Filipino boxers scheduled to attend training camps in Los Angeles and San Francisco in August and the Women’s World Championship in Bridgetown, Barbados in September.


“Their worthiness will be gauged in this tournament,” said Ed Picson, executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines. “Of course, all these preparations are geared toward an excellent showing in the Asian Games in Guangzhou this November.”

Patterned after the hugely successful Mayor’s Cup, the MVP International Friendship Cup, which offers $1,000 for every gold medal won, has lured fighters from China, Chinese-Taipei, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.

A sixth country, Mongolia, backed out a few days ago. But Macau, Picson said, has sent word of “their desire to come here pending approval of their request to their government ministry.”

The Philippines will field two teams to compete in seven weight categories in the men’s division – 48 kilograms, 51 kgs., 54 kgs., 57 kgs., 60 kgs. 64 kgs., 69 kgs., and four of five categories in the women’s class – 46 kgs., 48 kgs., 51 kgs., 54 kgs., and 57 kgs.

“This is in response to the clamor from the international boxing community for the country to once again host a boxing tournament,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas.

“Most boxing officials have fond memories of the Mayor’s Cup, and the new leaders at ABAP have been getting requests to revive the tournament. And so we did, with Mr. Pangilinan (the ABAP chairman) graciously allowing us to use his name as tournament title.”

The Mayor’s Cup had drawn at least 20 countries during it’s heydays, and ABAP, said Picson, is starting small but hopes to eventually get bigger as before.

“For some unknown reason, it fizzled out in the late ‘90s before the turn of the century,” Picson said. “But we’ll do our best to revive its lost glory”

Spawning ground for world amateur boxing champions like Russia’s Konstantin Tszyu, Thailand’s Somluck Kamsing, and North Korea’s 1992 Barcelona Olympics champion Choi Choi Su, the Mayor’s Cup also guided the rise of local heroes, including brothers Mansueto and Roel Velasco, among other Filipino ring gladiators.

Gracing the opening ceremony will be Dr. Ching Kuo Woo of Taipei, president of the international governing body AIBA, and Chang Jiangping, president of the Asian Boxing Federation, and Richard Guozheng, executive director, both of China.

The 70-80 boxers will be billeted at the Waterfront Pavilion Hotel, with security provided by international security system agency G4S of Great Britain.

“This will also be the first test for our elite boxers, our brightest hopes for an Asian Games gold medal,” said ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio.

Charly Suarez, brothers Rey and Victor Saludar, and Annie Albania, training exclusively with coach Nolito ‘Boy’ Velasco, will be seeing action. A fifth boxer, youthful Mark Anthony Barriga, underwent an appendectomy recently and was not lined up.

Box-offs are currently being conducted in Baguio City to determine the composition of the two RP teams.

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POOR RITCHIE

MEPRANUM: Failure in his first title bid


RITCHIE Mepranum’s bid for a first ever world title disappeared in thin air after being stopped in the fifth round by Julio Cesar Miranda for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight crown in Mexico City over the weekend.


The young Filipino was initially sent to the canvas in the fourth round following a big left hook to the chin, and then was twice knocked down in the fifth with vicious body shots before the referee stepped in and halted the carnage.

It was the first career knockout loss for the 23-year old boxer from Maasim, Sarangani for a 22-3-1 card, with 5 KOs.

Prior to his shot at the WBO 112-pound belt, Mepranum is coming off a remarkable 10-round decision of previously unbeaten Hernan `Tyson’ Marquez last March 12 in Dallas, Texas.

He took the fight with Miranda in two week’s notice after Omar Narvaez vacated the crown and went up in the super-flyweight division.

Miranda improved to 35-5-1, with 25 KOs and won his first world title after two failed attempts in the past, including a 12-round unanimous decision against South African Moruti Mthalane in a 2009 showdown for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) version of the belt.

Maasim, Sarangani Mayor Jojo Lopez, who acts as Mepranum’s manager, said the Filipino boxer needs to take a rest for the moment before charting their next move.

Mepranum will be back in the country within the week together with trainer Jonathan Tinagsa.

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RIPE FOR A WORLD CROWN?

RICHIE Mepranum tries to become the latest Filipino world champion as he vies for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight title against Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda Sunday.


The 23-year old Filipino from Maasim, Sarangani and Miranda slug it out for 12 rounds at the Convention Center in Puebla, Mexico for the 112-pound WBO version of the title belt.

Both fighters tipped the scales at exactly 112 pounds during Saturday’s official weigh-in.

Mepranum sports a 22-2 card with only 5 KOs, although he’s coming off an impressive unanimous 10-round decision over previously unbeaten fighter Hernan `Tyson’ Marquez last March in Dallas, Texas.

The country has three world boxing champions at the moment – pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao (WBO welterweight), Donnie Nietes (WBO minimumweight) and Rodel Mayol (WBC flyweight).

Miranda however, is no pushover.

The 30-year old Mexican has a mean 31-5 record, including 24 KOs.

In his last fight April of this year, Miranda scored a third round technical knockout of Faustino Cupul.

Additionally, he had beaten former world champion Eric Ortiz – the same man Brian Viloria defeated for the WBC light-flyweight belt – in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) title eliminator bout, earning him a championship showdown with Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.

However, Miranda lost to Mthalane in a 12-round decision.

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NOT DEAD

BOB ARUM


By Gerry Ramos


IT seems no one is seriously taking the word of Floyd Mayweather Jr. regarding his plan to take a “year or a couple of years off boxing.”


Not Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. Not his former opponent Zab Judah. And heck, not even his own uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather.

While they may not be privy as to the reason for the unbeaten fighter’s unexpected statement to shy away from the sport again, all of them are one in saying that they don’t believe Mayweather Jr. is true to his words.

For Arum, not unless there is a formal announcement regarding the issue, negotiations for the fight the world wants to see – a Manny Pacquiao-Mayweather Jr. showdown – remain on the go.

“You never know with Floyd,” said the 78-year- old veteran boxing promoter, who’s constantly been in touch with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer as they silently try to work out a deal regarding a November 13 meeting between two of boxing’s biggest names today.

Schaefer is negotiating in behalf of Mayweather.

Added Arum, “Sometimes, he (Mayweather) just talks for the sake of talking. If Floyd plans to take a year or two off, we should be seeing a formal press release soon.”

The bone of contention came over the weekend when Mayweather indiscreetly told reporters present during an appearance at the Make A Wish charity affair that he’s taking a year or a couple of years off boxing.

Mayweather made the statement in reaction to a question regarding a possible ring encounter with Pacquiao before the year ends.

The former Olympian attended the event to grant the wish of a young fan named Amando to see his favorite boxer in the flesh. Amando is suffering from Hodgins disease.

But unless the loudmouth champion from Grand Rapids, Michigan corroborates his earlier announcement, two other persons that have links to him – both present and past – are dismissing the reports as nothing but a joke.

Money, and lots of them, according to Roger Mayweather and Judah, will dictate Floyd Jr. to take the Pacquiao fight.

“What makes money makes sense,” said his long-time trainer. “I’m sure there are other fights out there, but since that’s the biggest fight for Floyd, the biggest fight out there is Pacquiao.”

Judah, the former undisputed welterweight champion of the world who lost by unanimous decision against Floyd Jr. in their 2006 fight for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) version of the 147-pound title, had the same line of thinking with Mayweather the trainer.

“I think it’s going to happen. There is no way in the world it won’t, “ he said.

“I know Floyd well. He’s not going to walk away from money like that.”

Pacquiao has kept mum about the latest development in the race to make the fight projected to be the biggest and richest in prizefighting history.

The world top pound-for-pound fighter attended the banquet dinner of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City and personally received the 2009 Boxer of the Year award and Fighter of the Decade honor bestowed on him by the biggest boxing writers’ group in the world.

He was also at ringside and watched the Miguel Cotto-Yuri Foreman World Boxing Association (WBA) super-welterweight fight at the new Yankee Stadium.

The world’s top pound-for-pound champion is now bound for Los Angeles together with wife Jinkee and their kids for a well deserved, one-week vacation.

Arum said there are several options left for Pacquiao in case the fight with Mayweather doesn’t push through, given the new twist that unfolded in the recent days.

But in the end, the Top Rank big boss believes Mayweather won’t walk away from the ring and will face Pacquiao instead.

“I’m optimistic,” said Arum as quoted in PhilBoxing. “I am sure that will come clear this coming week.”

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BEST OF THE DECADE

PACQUIAO


NEW YORK - Manny Pacquiao, boxing's pound-for-pound king and a newly elected legislator in the Philippines, accepted his third Fighter of the Year award Friday from the Boxing Writers Association of America.


“Tonight I overflow with joy and gratitude,” Pacquiao said. “I am thankful that, just like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and other boxers, I decided to get into boxing.”

After a 2009 that included a spectacular second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton and a punishing 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto that gave Pacquiao titles in a record seven divisions, Pacquiao was the overwhelming winner in voting by the organization's members.

He was also named Fighter of the Decade.

“I confronted poverty by trusting God and dreaming big,” Pacquiao said. “I was convinced I could succeed in boxing. The boxing ring could be the breeding ground for my dreams.”

Pacquiao, who was accompanied by his wife, Jinkee, planned to stay in New York to see Cotto challenge junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman on Saturday night in the first fight at the new Yankee Stadium - more than 30 years after the last fight at the original Yankee Stadium.

Top Rank’s Bob Arum said that he would continue to try to put together a fight between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather jnr.

Negotiations on a bout last year broke down over Mayweather's demand for stringent blood-test doping controls.

Pacquiao instead beat Joshua Clottey in front of 51,000 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, while Mayweather beat Shane Mosley in Las Vegas.

Pacquaio's trainer, Freddie Roach, accepted his fourth Trainer of the Year award - and said he wouldn't discuss a possible Pacquiao-Mayweather bout.

“I'm just going to stay out of this one,” he said. “I'm tired of whining, guessing, hoping. Obviously we all hope to get the big fight, but if we don't, we'll fight somebody else.”

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