Friday, August 03, 2007 Mayol vs. Solis: Preview of World Cup
THE Ulises Solis vs. Rodel Mayol IBF light-flyweight fight is promoted by another promoter and held in a different venue and date, but the match is considered by many boxing pundits as the prologue of the much anticipated Mexico vs. Philippines World Cup of Boxing.
Mexican IBF 108-pound champion Solis, considered by many as the finest champion in the division and Philippines’ most promising slugger, Mayol, will engage in a 12-round contest on Aug. 4 (Aug. 5, RP Time) at the All-Star Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.
However, Mayol, who moved up to the junior flyweight division for this fight is given a little chance to win the title.
Experience
Both fighters have 18 knockouts but the champion is more experienced with 24 wins against a single loss and two draws compared to Mayol, who has 23 wins and one loss.
Compared to Solis, though, Mayol’s credentials may not be as impressive to the pundits but the Filipinos still trust and believe in the 24-year old Mandaue City native fighter.
Solis has already publicly announced that his victory over Mayol would avenge the loss of his older brother, Jorge, to Manny Pacquiao last April.
Pacquiao knocked out Jorge in eight rounds at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas that handed the Mexican his first defeat in 29 fights.
Eastsideboxing.com writer Jason Travilla wrote “Mayol doesn’t have much chance at beating Solis, to put things bluntly.
While his power and speed are impressive, Solis is much too tough for Mayol, and should take him out before the distance.”
While it is true that the credentials of Solis is far better than that of the Filipino challenger, but it is still fresh on every Mexican boxing fans how Mayol demolished Mexican Lorenzo Trejo in January 2006 in four rounds in Mexico.
Although Solis had defeated fighters like former champions Jose Antonio Aguirre, Wills Grisby, Eric Ortiz, Omar Soto and Nelson Dieppa – the hunger and determination plus the power and speed of Mayol may tip the balance in his favor. (RCM)
