How good is Mayol? - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

It didn’t take long for miniflyweight sensation Rodel Mayol to dispose of Korean Kim Jae Ho in their scheduled 10-round bout at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City recently.

The fight started past midnight and if ringsiders were caught dozing, they missed the fireworks because the action was over in 106 seconds. Mayol didn’t waste any time wrapping things up. He unleashed a vicious left hook to the temple and Kim crumpled to the seat of his pants.

The Korean got up at the count of three but didn’t seem to know where he was. Referee Luciano Babiera, Jr. hesitated to stop it because the fight barely began. Kim, clearly dazed, walked like a drunk towards his corner. His legs wobbled. His eyes were glassy. Someone in Kim’s corner threw a blue towel into the ring. No sense prolonging the agony. Babiera took the cue and called it a night.

Cebu Daily News writer Salven Lagumbay called it "one of the most devastating shows" and gushed at Mayol’s display of power. Sun Star Cebu’s Rommel Manlosa said the quick ending surprised the fans and also Mayol because Kim boasted impressive credentials — he’s ranked No. 4 by the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) and No. 1 in Korea. A former Asian Gamer, Kim entered the ring with a 5-2-1 record, including three KOs.

Mayol’s manager Tony Aldeguer isn’t rushing things. "I know he’s ready but I think I have to know how tough Rodel is," said Aldeguer quoted by Manlosa. "Maybe, two or three fights more, then I’ll have him challenge for the OPBF title. I’ll give him first a tougher opponent, a black American or a Mexican. I’ll go for a Mexican champion. This way, I can test Rodel’s skills and I’ll know if he’s ready."

In an e-mail to The STAR, Aldeguer said he didn’t expect Mayol to finish off Kim with a single blow. "With this victory, I hope Mayol will be installed as one of the top 10 contenders in the OPBF," added Aldeguer.

Another Aldeguer protégé, Philippine superlightweight champion Dindo Castanares, scored an impressive win that same night. Castanares knocked out muscular Dornchai Sakpanya of Thailand at 1:45 of the second round in the chief aperitif to the Mayol mainer.

"It is my hope that Mayol and Castanares will get a chance someday to fight in Manila in the undercard of either Gerry Penalosa or Manny Pacquiao," said Aldeguer. "I need to expose them in Manila in order that they get to be known in the big city."

Mayol, 19, and Castanares, 20, are both Aldeguer scholars.

"All I want is for them to earn a decent living using their talents as boxers and at the same time, earn a college degree," said Aldeguer, known in boxing circles for his big heart. "All my boys have no contracts with me as in the case before with Penalosa, (Joma) Gamboa, (Edito) Villamor, (Andy) Tabanas, (Jun) Gorres, (Malcolm) Tunacao and the rest of my other boxers. That has always been my principle in handling boxers and I do not intend to change my ways."

Mayol is studying criminology at the University of Visayas while Castanares is enrolled at Southwestern University taking up Business Administration.

Mayol’s record is 6-0, with five KOs. Castanares’ mark is 7-0, with five KOs.

"I hope that someday one or two of them may become a world champion in the same way that Penalosa, Gamboa and Tunacao did," said Aldeguer. "In other words, I am paving the way for them to achieve their dreams."

Aldeguer said Mayol, a two-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, is his best bet for a world title. "He has all the tools — power, brains, heart, and style," noted Aldeguer. "I predict he’ll go far — farther than Edito who is now his trainer."

Villamor couldn’t deliver a world title to Aldeguer and failed in two bids. His goal is to make Mayol the world champion he never was.