Rodrigo is the object of an ugly tug-of-war between estranged manager Mira Murayama and international matchmaker Lope (Jun) Sarreal Jr. who claims the fighter sought his assistance to break out of a contract with a Japanese photojournalist’s Filipina wife because of personal differences stemming from a financial misunderstanding.
A hearing on the case is scheduled at the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) office in Makati this afternoon. GAB boxing chief Noli Flores told The Star the hearing will be presided by commis-sioner Emmanuel Palabrica and lawyer Ricardo Villamil. Sarreal and Mira Murayama’s husband Yuki are expected to attend.
If both parties fail to agree on a settlement, Flores said Villamil will submit a recommendation to the GAB Board, headed by Chairman Eduardo Villanueva, on a fair and just resolution.
Sarreal said he is amenable to offer a reasonable amount for Rodrigo’s release. He mentioned he is willing to pay off Rodrigo’s debt to Murayama of some P16,000 in purse advances and add another P16,000 for the release.
Murayama confided he will agree to a settlement but wants to be reimbursed for his expenses which he estimated to be P50,000. He said he will ask for an additional P50,000 from Sarreal to be donated to the Boxers Welfare Fund.
Sarreal denied luring Rodrigo out of Murayama’s camp. It was Rodrigo who asked for his help because Murayama refused to give him a P2,000 advance for his child’s hospitalization, claimed Sarreal.
"Sabi raw ni Murayama, babayaran muna ang kanyang electric bill bago tulungan si Rodrigo," said Sarreal. "Kung aso napapadala natin sa doktor para gamutin kung maysakit, dapat tao rin."
Sarreal said another former Murayama fighter Dondon Gimenea brought Rodrigo to him for assistance.
"I took care of Dondon after he tested positive for hepatitis and Murayama let him go," continued Sarreal. "So Dondon took Rodrigo to me because he needed money for his kid. In fact, Rodrigo’s wife left him because he couldn’t produce the money for the hospitalization."
Sarreal said Rodrigo also blamed Murayama for not negotiating a fight since he won the Philippine crown on a ninth round stoppage of Z Gorres in Makati last June.
But Murayama said he was in the process of arranging a crack at the World Boxing Council (WBC) crown held by Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand for Rodrigo when the fighter bolted camp. He said he clamped down on Rodrigo’s advances because it appeared the fighter couldn’t control his expenses.
A third-party lawyer said Murayama has a strong case against Rodrigo for breach of contract and Sarreal for tampering, a violation of the Civil Code. The lawyer added that if the GAB terminates the contract without a settlement, the government agency may also be liable for damages in court.
Flores said the GAB ruled out Sarreal’s proposal for Rodrigo to face a Thai opponent in a non-title bout on Nov. 14 in Bataan and upheld promoter Gerry Garcia’s right to exercise his option on the first title defense on or before Dec. 1.
Gorres was in line as Rodrigo’s mandatory challenger in a rematch but backed out after nutritionist Dr. Sanirose Orbeta said he would outgrow the 112-pound division within six months.