By Ronnie Nathanielsz

At Palenque de la Feria, in Chiapas, Mexico, Filipino Rodel Mayol (26-4, 20KOs) has won the WBC light flyweight title with a stunning second round TKO over Edgar Sosa (37-6-21KOs) of Mexico.

Mayol started aggressively and caught Sosa with a solid right hook midway in what turned out to be a feeling-out round where the champion was content to move around the ring and size up the Filipino who was making his fifth challenge for a world title.

A clear head-butt by Mayol in the second round had Sosa grimacing in pain and dropping to his knees. The head-butt opened a nasty gash on Sosa’s left cheek and even as his corner treated the champion he appeared groggy.

Referee  Roberto Ramirez rightfully deducted a point from Mayol who immediately launched a furious attack and dropped Sosa with a vicious combination. The champion took a mandatory eight count but the moment he stood up Mayol swarmed all over him with a series of lefts and rights with Sosa on the ropes unable to defend himself forcing the referee to stop the fight.

A jubilant Mayol was elated over his success at long last after a series of controversial decisions especially in back-to-back fights against undefeated WBO champion Ivan Calderon. Their first fight ended in a sixth round technical draw when Calderon was cut by an accidental clash of heads although many fight fans thought Mayol should have won. The rematch  was also stopped when Calderon was once again cut on the forehead but the Puerto Rican won a 7th round technical but split decision.

Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain, a v ice president of the WBC who served as fight supervisor, awarded the belt to Mayol who thanked his countrymen for keeping their faith in him and supporting him all the way.

Buhain, in an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports said Mayol showed “very good speed and power” to overwhelm Sosa who looked drained at fight time. With the smashing win, Mayol improved to 26-4-1 with 20 knockouts.

Earlier reports indicated that Sosa was having problems maintaining his weight at the light flyweight limit and planned to move up after the title defense against Mayol.

Sosa, a usually slow starter, failed to get into any kind of rhythm as Mayol’s aggression appeared to bother him.

 Over in Merida, Mexico, Sonny Boy Jaro who had previously dropped a twelve round unanimous decision to Sosa despite dropping the champion in the twelfth round on September 27, 2008 was crushed by WBA mini flyweight champion Giovanni Sosa who scored a first round knockout with a cracking body shot.

Filipino southpaw, veteran Juanito Rubillar who had earlier stepped in to replace Jaro after a snafu over his visa prevented him from flying to Mexico via the US , survived seven rounds before Manny Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz asked the referee to stop the fight resulting in a 7th round TKO win for Segura. Koncz action caused a minor controversy since he was not even the manager or the corner-man of Rubillar in the  November 29, 2008 fight.

Jaro had only recently broken away from his longtime manager Aljoe Jaro in a bitter parting of the ways.