Rodel “Batang Mandaue” Mayol took the Philippine light flyweight title with a seventh-round split technical decision over a game Ardin Diale in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental Saturday night.The event was covered for television by Saved by the Bell of young businessman Elmer Anuran. Two judges saw the fight for Mayol 67-65 and 66-65, while the third judge gave it to Diale, 66-65. The bout had to be stopped due to a cut suffered by Diale on his left eyebrow from an accidental clash of heads back in the third round where a point was taken off Mayol, said Mayol's trainer Juanito Ablaca, who thought that the judge who gave the fight to Diale was perhaps watching another fight. Mayol, who is managed by superstar Manny Pacquiao and Rex “Wakee” Salud, controlled most of the rounds, although Diale scored in the fourth, added Ablaca. In the fifth, another clash of heads cut Diale and Mayol was deducted another point. Mayol continued to control the tempo of the fight, until the bout had to be stopped in the seventh. The win comes almost eight years after Mayol won his first Philippine title, knocking out Al Tarazona in a single round in 2000 to clinch the Philippine minimumweight crown. “Ang galing pala talaga ni Mayol. Nagmukhang totoy si Diale,” said promoter Elmer Anuran. /Correspondent Salven Lagumbay | 
