Grudge rematch set

AFTER their world title tussle ended in a draw, Filipino title contender Rodel Mayol and Puerto Rican world champion Ivan Calderon dangled the question; Who really won their first bout?

This will finally be answered as both light flyweights get it on one more time in a world championship rematch on Sept. 12 in Puerto Rico.

In their first encounter last July 13 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, the World Boxing Organization light flyweight title bout was stopped prematurely in the
sixth round as the defending titleholder, Calderon, suffered a gash on his forehead, due to an accidental headbutt in the fourth round. This forced the ring physician to end the fight in the sixth when the gash was bleeding profusely.

The fight ended in a draw as one judge scored in favor of Calderon while the other for Mayol. The third judge scored the fight a draw.

Cebuano promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud, who handles Mayol, said his ward should dominate the fight in order to win in Calderon’s backyard.

“If the fight will be one-sided (in favor of Mayol) then he will win but if it’s a close fight then Mayol would surely lose,” Salud told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

Calderon has won 12 fights in Puerto Rico via decisions. He was even victorious in a controversial split decision over former Mexican world champion Hugo Cazares to earn his current light flyweight title.

“Mayol could lose with just a small fraction. He needs to knock him out,” Salud said.

Salud believes that this fight would be as explosive as their first bout.

“This would be a good fight because their last fight was an exciting one,” he said.

Salud said that the 27-year-old Mayol, who is in the US training at the Wild Card Gym, will be assisted in his sparring by two of ALA Gym’s best fighters—WBO mini-flyweight titlist Donnie Nietes and AJ Banal—who are also training for their upcoming bouts.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on August 5, 2009.