Rubillar set to fight for  WBC title

LOS ANGELES – The way is clear for Davao del Norte southpaw Juanito Rubillar to challenge WBC lightflyweight champion Edgar Sosa of Mexico in what would be a fitting climax to a long pro career that started in 1994.

If plans don’t miscarry, Rubillar will take on Sosa in a 12-round title bout on Sept. 20 in Mexico City.

Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr., whose wife Arlene is Rubillar’s registered manager up to 2011, said the 31-year-old veteran is ready to go for broke in the fight of his life. It will be the third attempt for Rubillar to win a world crown after losing decisions to IBF minimumweight champion Zolani Petelo of South Africa in England in 1999 and WBC lightflyweight titlist Jorge Arce in Tijuana in 2004.

Elorde was at ringside when Rubillar earned the shot at Sosa’s belt by carving out a split 12-round verdict over former WBC 108-pound champion Omar Niño Romero in Mexico City last June 14.

After beating Romero, Rubillar went to Los Angeles and trained at the Wild Card Gym while Manny Pacquiao prepared for his fight against David Diaz. Elorde then took Rubillar to watch the Pacquiao-Diaz bout in Las Vegas last weekend.

Elorde and sportswriter Rey Danseco, who was a judge in the Rubillar-Romero fight, flew back to Manila the other day. Rubillar is arriving with the Pacquiao entourage this morning.

Elorde said nothing is final on Rubillar’s title crack but he expects the contract to be signed soon. For his part, Rubillar vowed to win the championship at all costs because he realizes this could be his last chance.

“What I like about Juanito is he never gives up,” said Elorde. “He’s tough and very durable. He just won’t go away. We were in Mexico City a week before the Romero fight and I don’t think there was a single fan in the arena cheering for Juanito. But he didn’t care. He didn’t give Romero a chance.”

Danseco said Romero was knocked down once but referee Hector Afu of Panama ruled it a slip. On the same card, Afu was also the referee in Sosa’s eighth round disposal of Takashi Kunishige of Japan in his fifth defense of the title he won on a majority decision over Fil-Am Brian Viloria last year.

Danseco scored it, 116-114, and American judge Steve Morrow, 114-113, both for Rubillar. Mexican judge Herminio Cuevas Collazo saw it, 118-111, for Romero.

Danseco, who was a judge in Gerry Peñalosa’s seventh round knockout over Bangsaen Sithpraprom for the WBF superflyweight title in Manila in 2004, said there was no doubt in anyone’s mind, except perhaps Collazo’s, that Rubillar deserved to win.

Danseco was paid a $1,300 fee to judge the Rubillar-Romero fight and another bout on the card, the North American Boxing Federation flyweight title bout between Eric Ortiz and Adrian Hernandez that ended in a fifth round technical draw. WBC president Jose Sulaiman assigned Danseco to be a judge in both fights.

Elorde said problems that hounded Rubillar only a few months ago are gone. The problems started when Rubillar was courted by a group led by former world champion Morris East to leave Elorde’s camp and incurred Sulaiman’s ire by agreeing to fight IBF lightflyweight champion Ulises Solis in Dubai. Rubillar eventually spurned East and the Dubai fight was cancelled.

Elorde credited Pacquiao for giving Rubillar this break late in his career.

“Manny is Juanito’s inspiration,” said Elorde. “Juanito was so excited when Manny invited him to go back to Manila with his group. What I admire about Manny is he’s not only giving young and promising Filipino fighters the chance to shine abroad but also veterans like Juanito the opportunity to earn big money.”

Rubillar has won 13 of his last 14 fights to improve his record to 46-10-7, with 22 KOs. Sosa’s record is 32-5, with 17 KOs and has won 20 in a row. The 28-year-old champion hasn’t lost since dropping a decision to Solis in 2003.