By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Rodel "Kid Rapido" Mayol (25-3-1, 19 KO's) will get his longed-for rematch with undefeated WBO light flyweight champion Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon (32-0-1, 6 KO's) in Puerto Rico on September 12.

In an overseas telephone conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports from Mexico, Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz said "Mayol will get a rematch with Calderon. That's been confirmed this morning."

Koncz also disclosed that should Michael Farenas (25-2-2, 22 KO's), a 25 year old protege of former two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa "look very good today"  in his bout against Arturo Gomez (15-12-3, 6 KO's) in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico "then he'll  fight for the super featherweight world title" also on the Mayol-Calderon card.   Koncz added, "we are working on that right now."

The opponent is likely to be WBO champion Roman Martinez (22-0-1, 13 KO's) who is also a Puerto Rican.

When Mayol took his third crack at a world title against Calderon he was once again denied by what was regarded by his camp at least as a questionable technical draw at New York ’s famed Madison Square Garden.

Immediately after the fight Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports  “I’m going to insist on it and I plan to do that fight in the Philippines ,” although Koncz who is also works closely with Arum indicated the rbematch will tnake place in Puerto Rico. 

The American TV panel appeared to favor Mayol in a close but unexciting bout that was marred by several head-butts which happens when a southpaw like Ivan Calderon who was some four inches shorter fights an orthodox opponent like Mayol.

A good right hand by Mayol and his aggressiveness against the undefeated Calderon gave the Filipino the first round against Calderon who hadn’t fought since last August when he also retained his title by a technical decision due to an accidental head-butt.

The US television panelist also favored Mayol in round two when he caught Calderon with a good right straight and was the stronger fighter who kept pushing the champion back.

Mayol connected with a long right in round three even as Calderon hardly threw many punches and at the end of the third round the panel had Mayol ahead on their unofficial scorecards 29-28.

Calderon used his quickness to land a good combination and was then cautionedf by the referee for his rough tactics  before a clash of heads for the second time bothered the champion who was briefly hurt when Mayol caught him with three right hands in the final minute of the round.

Two accidental clashes of heads again in the fifth round opened up a cut on Calderon’s forehead even as the commentators claimed the champion may have initiated the contact after which he was also guilty of throwing an elbow. A left hook by Mayol and a good right hand by Mayol ended the round.

The ring doctor examined Calderon twice in the fifth round as the champion appeared to get more desperate before one more clash of heads in round six forced the doctor to instruct referee Esteves to call a halt.

Rather surprisingly Tony Paolillo scored the fight 58-56 in favor of Calderon while in a four-point swing in what ended as a six round bout while respected boxing judge Tom Schreck had Mayol winning 58-56. The third judge, Steve Weisfeld scored it even at 57-57.