Nietes, pagreretiruhin ni Palicte – Mayol
NANINIWALA ang dating world champion at trainer ngayon na si Rodel Mayol na wawakasan ng sinasanay niyang boksingero na si NABF super flyweight champion Aston Palicte ang karera ng dati niyang kasama sa ALA Boxing Gym na si three-division titlist Donnie Nietes.
“I have huge confidence that Palicte will win via knockout,” sabi ni Mayol sa Philboxing.com. “One, Palicte is bigger than Nietes and size matters. Two, Palicte is stronger. Three, Palicte is younger and hungrier.”
Para kay Mayol na natamo ang WBC light flyweight title nang mapatigil sa 2nd round ang kampeong si Mexican Edgar Sosa sa Tuxtia Gutierrez, Mexico noong 2009, tanging ang karanasan lamang sa ibabaw ng ring ang lamang ni Nietes kay Palicte.
“Nietes’ only advantage is his experience. No doubt Nietes is very good, but he’s already older so his body is already weak,” diin ni Mayol. “Just like a car, he has already lots of miles on him, but he’s still okay.”
Paglalaban nina No. 1 contender Nietes at No. 3 ranked Palicte ang bakanteng World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight title sa main event ng “Superfly 3” card sa Setyembre 8 sa Forum, Inglewood, California sa United States.
Ngunit, naniniwala si Mayol na nagretiro matapos mapatigil sa 9th round ng dating kampeong si Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. para sa IBF flyweight belt sa Los Mochis, Mexico noong 2012, na kapana-panabik ang sagupaan nina Nietes at Palicte.
“But this will be a very good fight. Aston’s weakness is usually his stamina. But this time, in our training, he can go 15 rounds and not get tired. I also strengthened his midsection in case Nietes throws body punches,” dagdag ni Mayol. “That’s why I’m confident that Palicte will win. I believe that this will be a better fight than Jerwin Ancajas vs. Jonas Sultan.”
Ngunit bentahe rin ni Palicte na naging sparring partner ni Mayol si Nietes kaya batid niya ang estilo nito at kahinaan na maituturo sa kanyang sinasanay na boksingero.
“Yes, we used to spar against each other. I know how to fight Nietes,” dagdag ni Mayol na nagretiro sa rekord na 316-2 win-loss-draw na may 22 panalo sa knockouts.