CONFIDENT RUBILLAR LEAVES FOR JAPAN TODAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 Jun 2007
An extremely confident OPBF light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar leaves for Osaka, Japan today to make the first defense of his title against Japanese Ken Nakajima on June 24,
Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today watched the final workout of the 30 year old Rubillar who looked in great shape as he went through a tough regimen at the Bebot Elorde Gym in Saint Rita's, Paranaque. The soft spoken southpaw revealed he had trained for almost three months and was looking forward to an impressive win and a possible crack at the world title.
Rubillar who is currently rated No. 4 by the WBC laments the fact that despite being the No.1 contender on two occasions he was denied a crack at Brian Viloria when Viloria was champion and was unable to defend his title because of a hand injury.
Rubillar twice battled the Mexican warrior Jorge Arce for the WBC title but lost on both occasions by a unanimous twelve round decision although the decision in the second title fight was regarded by the Rubillar camp as controversial.
Rubillar said he was just one pound over the light flyweight limit and should have no problem making the weight after sparring 108 rounds against WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Drian Francisco and minimum weight champion Ryan Bito.
Managed by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr, Rubillar said he had seen a tape of Nakajima and described him as “a good fighter” but that he was "confident of winning" and moving on to a possible world title shot promised him by Elorde.
Rubillar won the OPBF title by a seventh round TKO over tough Indonesian Irfan Ogah last October 13 in Trece Martires City, Cavite in a fight telecast on the top-rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” over RPN 9 sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum, PCSO and Pagcor.
He is coming off a sixth round technical decision over Larry Mede in Baguio City last February 25. Rubillar has a record of 41-10-7 with 18 knockouts to his name while Nakajima who lost a te round decision to countryman Takashi Kunishige on November 7, 2006 has a record of 16-4 with 10 knockouts.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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