Mayol eager to face Sosa in rematch

MANILA, Philippines - Brushing aside charges of foul play, newly-crowned WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol of Mandaue City said yesterday he took the title away from Edgar Sosa fair and square but can’t wait for the rematch to shut the Mexican up for good.

Mayol halted Sosa, making the 11th defense of lightflyweight diadem he won on a majority decision over Brian Viloria two years ago, to claim the WBC crown in Chiapas, Mexico, last Saturday night. Referee Robert Ramirez stepped in to stop the bout as Sosa was under attack along the ropes after he was dropped by a left hook to the jaw in the second round.

Sosa has the option for a rematch as stipulated in the fight contract with Mayol.

Mayol, 28, said Sosa lacked power in his punches and appeared weak from making the 108-pound limit at the weigh-in the day before. Sosa, 30, complained that he never recovered from a headbutt early in the second round. His manager Jacques Deschamps described the headbutt as “vicious” and “intentional,” insisting that Mayol should have been disqualified for the infraction.

Deschamps said he will protest the outcome and press for a no-contest, claiming Sosa was in no condition to continue because of the headbutt despite clearance from the ringside doctor. Sosa reportedly suffered a fractured cheekbone.

Deschamps accused Mayol of deliberately butting Sosa and said the Filipino did the same in his previous two fights against Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon. Both fights against Calderon were stopped because of injuries caused by headbutting – the first was declared a technical draw and the second was won by the Puerto Rican via a split technical decision.

But Mayol said Deschamps was just sourgraping. He said he’ll be ready for a rematch anytime, anywhere.

Mayol seized the initiative from the onset, jarring Sosa with combinations from long distance in the opening round. It was apparent that Sosa had no antidote for Mayol’s speed.

Mayol came out smoking in the second round. During a fierce exchange, Sosa was struck on the right cheek by Mayol’s head. Sosa was given a few minutes to recover from the accidental headbutt but was declared fit to continue by the ringside physician. Ramirez penalized Mayol a point for the infraction.

Mayol went after Sosa when the fight was resumed and landed a powerful right straight to the face, staggering the Mexican. Going for the kill, Mayol pounced on Sosa, bleeding from the nose, and connected with a left hook to the jaw. Sosa fell on the seat of his pants and got up on rubbery legs. Mayol then pinned him against the ropes, firing at least six shots before Ramirez stopped the massacre.

What Mayol is looking forward to is returning home a world champion, something he has dreamed of since turning pro in 2000. It took Mayol five attempts before finally bagging a world title.

A two-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, Mayol started out as a pro with Tony Aldeguer until Terry Carter, an American war veteran then living in Cebu, offered the fighter a P200,000 signing bonus to join his Stonewall stable in 2001. Carter later sold Mayol’s rights to Japanese businessman Yasuo Matsuoka for P4 million.

When Matsuoka, who is married to Gina Orlais of Agusan del Norte, relinquished his rights to Mayol, the fighter connected with Manny Pacquiao’s camp. Mayol was brought by Pacquiao’s advisers Wakee Salud and Michael Koncz to Los Angeles where he trained under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym.

Mayol was luckless in four previous bids for a world title. In 2006, he was floored in the last round in losing a decision to WBC minimumweight champion Eagle Kyowa in Tokyo. In 2007, Mayol was stopped by IBF lightflyweight titleholder Ulises Solis. Last June, he figured in a technical draw with WBO lightflyweight titlist Calderon and in a rematch three months later, lost on a split technical decision.

The oldest of five children, Mayol found out how good he was with his fists by accident. When he was in Grade 3 at the Mandaue City Central School, Mayol knocked out a campus bully – bigger and three years older – with a single punch. But it wasn’t until he was 15 when he began seriously training as an amateur under Brix Flores.

Mayol and wife Lira Mendoza have two children, Eizre Bryce, 5, and Railan Brent, 1. Mayol met Lira through her sister Nesiree, a marathoner whom he used to train with at the Aldeguer gym in Cebu.

Lira was a UP Cebu scholar and management graduate.

The win over Sosa improved Mayol’s record to 26-4-1, with 20 KOs. It was Sosa’s first loss to a Filipino after repulsing Viloria, Sonny Boy Jaro and Juanito Rubillar.