Black Saturday

Disaster struck three Filipino fighters in world title fights in different countries last Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time) and even as WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol retained his title, he was carried out of the ring on a stretcher.

Mayol staked his crown against former titleholder Omar Nino Romero in Guadalajara and before the bout, the WBC issued a strong statement chastising the Filipino for allegedly stating in a newspaper interview that he feared the governing body wouldn’t stage a fair fight. Mayol denied he ever said it.

But the damage was done. “For (Mayol) to question the WBC’s integrity is unacceptable and to question the honesty of the four North American ring officials selected for this bout will not be tolerated,” said the WBC. “The WBC appointed Gary Ritter of Oklahoma, Nathan Palmer of Indiana and Stephen Blea of Colorado as judges and referee Vic Drakulich of Nevada , all neutral officials.

“It is regrettable that Mayol, who is a very nice and gentle person, could allow these irresponsible comments to be published on his behalf. The WBC is referring the matter to the WBC disciplinary committee to evaluate and rule if any action will proceed to clarify these claims.”

In his denial, Mayol said he never questioned the WBC’s integrity or the honesty of the officials appointed to work the fight. He thanked the WBC for the opportunity to vie for the world crown and become a champion.

After getting off to a strong start, Mayol was blasted below the belt by Romero in the third round. Mayol grimaced and motioned to Drakulich that he had been struck low. Drakulich moved in, apparently to stop the action, as Mayol turned away with both arms down. Suddenly, Romero unleashed a vicious left hook that caught Mayol flush on the jaw. Drakulich was too late in preventing Romero from throwing the sucker punch. Mayol fell on the canvas like a sack of potatoes.

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Initially, there was confusion on what would be the outcome as Mayol was in no condition to continue. Drakulich consulted WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman at ringside and it was decided to declare the bout a technical draw, allowing Mayol to keep his belt. Sulaiman’s father Jose is the WBC president.

Ruling a technical draw was a compromise. If a fight is called off because a fighter is unable to continue because of a cut inflicted by an accidental headbutt in the first four rounds, then it is ruled a technical draw or a no-contest. In Mayol’s case, he was knocked out before Drakulich could step in between the fighters – similar to the situation where referee Jay Nady failed to separate Bernabe Concepcion and Steven Luevano at the sound of the seventh round bell, causing the Filipino to strike the WBO featherweight champion and knock him out in Las Vegas last year.

Concepcion was disqualified for the late hit and rightly so although Nady was widely criticized for his inability to move in between the fighters.

What happened to Mayol was unfortunate but he was lucky not to lose by knockout. The rule in boxing is for a fighter to protect himself at all times. Obviously, Mayol was defenseless after motioning to Drakulich he had been hit low and walked away from Romero. But Drakulich never got to separate the fighters so technically, there was no official stoppage and Romero had every right to continue punching. Drakulich, however, appeared to have called a halt – verbally – so if Romero heard it, he should’ve backed off. Of course, Romero will deny hearing an order to retreat – just like Concepcion denied hearing the bell ring.

Should Romero have been disqualified? To justify a disqualification, there must be malicious intent or a blatant infraction of a rule. Because it wasn’t clear if Romero should’ve won by knockout or lost by disqualification, Sulaiman handed out a solomonic compromise – a technical draw. Perhaps, it should’ve been a no-contest.

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The two other Filipinos who figured in world title bouts last Saturday suffered losses. Marvin Sonsona was knocked out by a shot to the ribs in the fourth round by Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in Puerto Rico while Juanito Rubillar Jr. lost to Hekkie Budler on a majority decision for the vacant IBO lightflyweight diadem in South Africa.

Sonsona, 19, moved up two weight classes to battle Vazquez and never fought as a 122-pounder before. He previously campaigned in the superflyweight or 115-pound class. Not even Manny Pacquiao dared to fight for the world superbantamweight title immediately after leaving the flyweight ranks. It took Pacquiao two years before challenging IBF 122-pound champion Lehlo Ledwaba after losing the flyweight title on the scales in his second defense against Medgeon 3-K Battery.

Sonsona was unfairly rushed into another world title shot and the kid wasn’t ready to go for it. There is still some doubt whether Sonsona couldn’t make the superflyweight limit in defending his WBO title against Alejandro Hernandez last November because he was just too lazy to train or his body had naturally grown bigger. His handlers must decide at what weight division is Sonsona suited for at this stage in his physical development and that can only come after consulting a conditioning expert and nutritionist.

 It’s crucial for the handlers to realize it’s not a guessing game and Sonsona could be exposed to serious injury in the ring with a decision based on unscientific factors. Finding his optimal weight is critical. Sonsona is too young, too inexperienced and too undisciplined to appreciate that locating his weight division isn’t predicated on where the scales settle after a good meal.

As for Rubillar, it seems that he was robbed of a decision. Ringside reporters said he dominated the action starting the fourth round. Budler, who was only four when Rubillar turned pro in 1994, got the nod of two of the three hometown judges. Lulma Mtya saw it 117-113 and Deon Dwarte, 115-113, both for Budler while Isaac Tshabalala scored it 114-all.

It was Rubillar’s fifth unsuccessful attempt to capture a world title and the frustration must be taking a toll on the 33-year-old veteran.