Q & A with Rodel Mayol -- 15Rounds

By Anson Wainwright, 15Rounds.com

In the last year Rodel Mayol 26-4-2(20) has been involved in a career’s worth of controversial endings. His last four fights to be exact all World title fights have had unsatisfactory conclusions. First he fought Ivan Calderon for the WBO 108 crown it was his third attempt at a world title, the fight was stopped due to a terrible cut on Calderon’s forehead. It went to the scorecards and after six completed rounds it was declared a draw. Mayol’s gutsy display earned him a straight rematch, incredibly the same cut was again opened up on Calderon’s forehead. With the fight stopped in the seventh it was again it was in the hands of the judges who scored it narrowly for Calderon. Finally things went in Mayol’s favour last November when he beat long reigning WBC Light Flyweight champion Edgar Sosa. Midway through the second stanza the two fighters clashed heads violently, Sosa was badly hurt and dropped. He was ultimately stopped and left with a broken cheek bone. While many believed it should of been declared a No Contest the referee missed it and declared Mayol the victor. Last time out he fought another Mexican Omar Nino. In the third round when they were separated from a clinch and Nino cold cocked Mayol knocking him out, with the fight declared a technical draw. On 19 June they will have a rematch again in Mexico, here’s to hoping we can have a conclusive result without a hint of controversy this time.

Hello Rodel, welcome to 15rounds.com

Hi Anson, thank you for taking time to interview me. I appreciate it.

Anson Wainwright - Firstly your scheduled to make the second defence of your WBC Light Flyweight title against Omar Nino on 19 June in Mexico. You fought in February but the fight was called a no contest after you were hit late. What is your take on what happened?

Rodel Mayol - Regarding the decision on my last defence against Nino, I would sincerely would want it a disqualification for Nino if it was me to decide. Since it was what WBC has decided- I fully respect and accept it.

Anson Wainwright - Your last 4 fights have ended strangely the two with Calderon had unsatisfactory ending due to cuts and so did the Edgar Sosa fight. What are your thoughts on both Calderon fights and then the Sosa fight?

Rodel Mayol - Strange as it maybe, but these bouts are the only bouts I have ever encountered headbutts in my list of bouts. I guess it is due to clash of boxing styles between them and me. But I would like to stress out that all of these headbutts have been unintentional.

Anson Wainwright - Who is in your team. Who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Rodel Mayol - My coach is Jesus Arevalo. He is Freddie Roach’s assistant coach in WILDCARD GYM. Jeremiah Quijano my long-time and trusted friend is also my assistant coach. My cutman is Dr. Edgardo dela Vega. My team is small but they are very loyal and supportive to me in any way I could ask for. My manager is Mr. Manny Pacquiao and I am under MP Promotions and Top Rank.

Anson Wainwright - Could you tell us how things were for you when you were young growing up in The Philippines and how it took you into Boxing?

Rodel Mayol - It all started with my love of basketball. I never knew that I be a boxer out of it and become who I am right now.

I had a fight with a fellow player that made a bully out of me. I was beaten since I am a small boy. I lived very close by a neighbouring boxing gym, so I trained to take revenge and beat the guy in the future when we meet again. I never had the chance to beat him-I ended up being busy in boxing.

Anson Wainwright - You turned pro in 2000 and for several years looked like you may not win a World title coming up short against Eagle Kyowa & Ulises Solis & then the two fights with Ivan Calderon. How did it feel to finally win the title against Sosa?

Rodel Mayol - Every boxer wants to be a champion. I think that is the ultimate goal you need to achieve to be successful and happy in this career. I have been on a very long journey. But perseverance, hard work, love of the sport and having the heart of a champion is what it takes to bring you into this position. Sosa fight maybe the perfect timing for me- and I have been very patient and I never gave up. The defeats and heartbreaks I encountered in the shortcoming of my previous world title bouts made me stronger.

Anson Wainwright - You have fought many very talented fighters who do you feel was your toughest opponent?

Rodel Mayol - It would be Ulises Solis.

Anson Wainwright - What do you consider your best performance and why?

Rodel Mayol - I would say it was my fight with Edgar Sosa. Nobody believed me at that time any longer. I guess just got tired believing. It was the perfect timing, I was in the best condition in my entire career, and i shocked everybody.

Anson Wainwright - If you could fight anyone who would it be? What goals do you still have in Boxing?

Rodel Mayol - I do not have preference on who. But I would love to fight big names in my weight division. I intend to keep the WBC belt and defend it whatever it takes. And if God gives me more blessings, I would love to collect other belts as well.

Anson Wainwright - What do you like to do with time when your not Boxing? what are your hobbies?

Rodel Mayol - I love to go fishing. It gives me a lot of time to relax, enjoy and time to think. It has also helped me build patience and perseverance. Other than that, I spend my time with my family and friends.

Anson Wainwright - Recently Manny Pacquiao won the race to congress in The Philippines. That is a fantastic achievement. What are your thoughts on that?

Rodel Mayol - I am very happy for his success. He deserves all of it. Because of Manny, boxers especially in the Philippines has been given a higher elevation in society. Boxers are intelligent - -not mere brawlers in the ring.

Anson Wainwright - Do you have a message for Omar Nino?

Rodel Mayol - I am excited to defend my WBC belt against him the 2nd time around and I have no plan in letting anyone borrow my belt (LOL!)

Thanks for your time Rodel, good luck in your upcoming fight.

Source: 15rounds.com

Johnriel Casimero hoping to take light-flyweight title from Ivan Calderon -- Daily Post

By Martin Williams, dailypost.co.uk

I’M eagerly anticipating the WBO light flyweight match-up between the brilliant Ivan Calderon and Johnriel Casimero on May 29.

Many readers will know a little about Calderon, but Casimero has not yet made an impact on UK fans.

Having watched him knock out the hard-hitting Cesar Canchila in 11 rounds in December, I predict he will be in the pound-for-pound top 10 by Christmas if he defeats Puerto Rican Iron Boy, who is unbeaten in 34 fights.

Quick and powerful like fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao, 20-year-old Casimero’s record stands at 14-0 (KO 8).

Aged 12 when he took up boxing, Casimero used to get into a lot of street fights.

He said: “One time I was fighting three guys at once. A boxing trainer saw me and asked if I was interested in becoming a boxer.”

Casimero is a former national amateur boxing champion. If he did not fight professionally, he would have wanted to become a policeman.

When asked who his dream opponent would be, he replied: “Ivan Calderon. I don’t think his defensive style will bother me.”

Christopher Pingping “The Sting” Tepura, a former pro boxer, trained Johnriel when he was already an eight-rounder. He praised Casimero’s work ethic and is confident of victory.

To be honest, when watching Casimero I was startled by his ability and can’t wait to see him box again. If anyone has a spare ticket for the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez show then let me know!

Source: dailypost.co.uk

Teen in world title clash

October 26, 2009, By Edri K. Aznar, Sun Star Cebu

ANOTHER Filipino youngster will have a shot at greatness as 19-year-old undefeated Jhonreil Casimiro will take on Columbian Cesar Canchilla for the interim World Boxing Organization junior flyweight belt on Dec. 12.

SGG first gave 19-year-old Marvin Sonsona a shot at a world title and he won against Jose Lopez. Now, SGG is giving another young boxer the same chance.

The only thing hindering Casimiro’s path to greatness is Canchilla, who used to hold the interim World Boxing Association light flyweight belt.

Canchilla gave world champion Giovanni Segura the first blotch of his record with a 12-round unanimous decision in their first fight last year.

Canchilla was later dethroned from his WBA title after Segura stopped him in the fourth round of their rematch last March.

“He (Casimiro) is a mature fighter. I’m confident that he is ready for a world championship fight,” Gello-ani told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview yesterday.

Although Canchilla has an impressive record of 28 wins and two losses with 22 knockouts, Gello-ani is confident his ward will pull off an upset just like what Sonsona did to Lopez last month.

“Casimiro is hungry for a world title. He has the power and the skills to win. Although Canchilla is a former world champion, I’m expecting for an upset,” said Gello-ani.

The Mandaue-based boxer Casimiro is undefeated with 13 wins and seven knockouts.

Just like Sonsona, his world title shot is his first fight outside the Philippines.

Casimiro is ranked No.4 in the WBO while Canchilla is rated second. The winner of the bout will have a chance to fight undefeated WBO junior flyweight titleholder Ivan Calderon.

(This article is originally posted at sunstar.com.ph)

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