Mayol Falls Down on 8

I have to write this, else, my mind will go ballistic trying to find the truth.

In the undercard fight of the War for 4: Erik Morales vs. David Diaz, Rodel Mayol received a devastating punch 1:13 left in the clock at 8th round from Ulises Solis for the IBF Mini Flyweight championship.

Ulises Solis is the brother of Jorge Solis whom Manny Pacquiao stopped also in the 8th round last April.

I didn't actually see this fight start and end.

I only saw the flashes of their fight in Channel 2, with the usual Spanish speaking host Diane telling the report.

Undoubtedly, the replayed scenes of Mayol kissing the canvass left him no chance of adding another title belt to the growing number of Filipino boxing champions. What caught my attention was when the host reportedly said, in reference to her after-fight interview, that Rodel admitted having less practice and preparations in challenging the current champion Solis.

Earlier Sunday, the sports page of my fave broadsheet had a news clipping telling a completely different story, that Mayol had prepared so much coming to this fight.

Suddenly, there is a knot in my head that let my hand scratch it quickly. Which news media is telling the story? I can't accussed anyone of them to craft a different scenario, because what purpose would it be if they change slightly the facts behind Mayol's plight.

The news reports was made on entirely different schedule. The broadsheet story came out before the fight, whilst the tv newsflash was shown hours after the bout concluded. There is greater chances that an interviewee would respond to questions with made-up answers before the battle, than reason out a humbling loss in an after-the-bout interview. Logically, losing in the 8th round would mean less practice and exercise in the gym.

Nonetheless, I feel sorry that Mayol had lost. It would have been a varied story, overall, had he snatched the title belt and strapped it in his torso.