Roach ‘100% confident' Mayol will beat Calderon

If Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach’s crystal ball is right on the money again, then Filipino prospect Rodel Mayol, a fighter promoted by Manny Pacquiao, will finally emerge as a world champion.

Roach will be in the corner of Mayol for his rematch with WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon on Saturday in Puerto Rico (Sunday in Manila) and he is positive “Batang Mandaue" will triumph this time. The 27-year-old Mayol earlier tangled with Calderon in an abbreviated fight that ended in a six-round technical draw after the Puerto Rican champ absorbed a cut on his forehead due to accidental head clash. "I think 100% that with the way his (Mayol’s) mindset is and the confidence he has compared to the last time, he'll win the fight," Roach said in an interview with BoxingScene.com. Roach, who will take over from assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez for Mayol-Calderon II, said their fight plan will concentrate on breaking down the speedy Calderon. "The left hook is the best weapon against a southpaw. He likes to use the right hand but we have to get him in position. We're working on the left hook to the head and body and moving out of harm's way after. We're working on the left mostly but to keep Calderon honest, we have to use both hands," he said. Aside from getting back at Calderon and finally nailing that coveted world title after four unsuccessful tries, Mayol is also looking to make it 2-0 for the Philippines in its current matchup with Puerto Rico. Filipino fighters gained the headstart in this duel when 19-year-old Marvin Sonsona wrested the WBO super flyweight strap from Puerto Rican Jose Lopez last week in Canada. A third RP-Puerto Rico tussle will explode on November 14 in Las Vegas, featuring pound-for-pound king Pacquiao and Boricuan bomber Miguel Cotto. - GMANews.TV