By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation minimum weight champion Rodel Mayol has been ranked No. 1 in the latest ratings of the World Boxing Council, moving the undefeated Filipino closer to a shot at the world title. Regarded as one of the brightest young prospects for a world title, Mayol has a record of 21-0 with 17 wins by way of knockout.
WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman in a communication with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today said he believes Mayol deserves a mandatory title shot in December against the winner of the title fight between newly-crowned champion Katsunari Takayama and former champion Eagle Kyowa who lost the title via a fourth round TKO to Isaac Bustos who in turn lost the crown to Takayama.
Mayol who fought on the undercard of the title fight, scoring a lopsided 120-107 decision over former Japanese champion Takayuki Korogi said he was "very confident" of beating Takayama, Kyowa or Bustos.
In response to a suggestion made to Manila Standard Today by the WBC, Mayol’s registered manager Joy Ouano sent an email to the WBC office in Mexico requesting that Mayol be given a mandatory title shot in December.