It's curtains for Rubillar

MANILA, Philippines - Late substitute Juanito Rubillar failed in his fourth attempt to win a world title as he was stopped by WBA lightflyweight champion Giovanni Segura at 2:04 of the sixth round at Nueva Vallarta, Mexico, yesterday morning (Manila time).

Rubillar, 32, was pulled in to challenge Segura on two days notice after original opponent Sonny Boy Jaro, another Filipino contender, failed to obtain a transient US visa which he needed to cross over to Mexico from Los Angeles. Jaro was previously issued a Mexican visa. Travelling to Mexico from Manila without passing through the US would’ve entailed a long, circuitous route.

Rubillar was in Los Angeles when former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa, who was in Mexico to work his protegé Michael Farenas’ corner against Mexico’s Arturo Gomez in the “Latin Fury” undercard, phoned to offer the title shot. Rubillar accepted without hesitation although there were reports that he failed to make the 108-pound limit at the weigh-in. The fight, however, went on.

A source said Rubillar was not out if it when his cornerman Erbito Salavarria threw in the towel but the stoppage was clearly to prevent further punishment on the veteran who has now lost his last three outings to WBC lightflyweight champion Edgar Sosa on a seventh round stoppage, Omar Nino Romero on a technical decision and Segura.

Rubillar never went down but it was evident he had no stamina to continue fighting without risking heavy damage. Referee Luis Pabon stepped in to signal a halt to the one-sided carnage.

Before losing three in a row, Rubillar had won seven straight, including a split decision over Romero and a fifth round knockout over Ken Nakajima in Osaka. The former OPBF champion was outpointed by IBF minimumweight titlist Zolani Petelo of South Africa in his first try to win a world crown in England in 1999. He also lost a decision to Jorge Arce in a WBC lightflyweight title bout in Mexico in 2004. It was his second loss to Arce on points, the first was for the interim championship in 2001.

 Segura, 27, halted Cesar Canchila for the WBA interim lightflyweight diadem last March and was designated the new champion in a WBA Board ruling three months later. The defense against Rubillar was his first and the win raised his record to 21-1-1, with 17 KOs.

Rubillar has probably reached the end of a long career that began in 1994. His record is now 46-13-7, with 22 KOs. He will go down in Philippine boxing history as one of the country’s hard-luck challengers who was thwarted in four title attempts.