WBC TO HELP GET RUBILLAR A TITLE FIGHT IN MANILA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 28 Jun 2007
The executive secretary of the premier world boxing organization, the World Boxing Council, says the WBC is ready to help OPBF light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar get a world title fight in Manila.
Mauricio Sulaiman, in response to a request from this reporter told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today “I am sure (Edgar) Sosa would love to fight Rubillar in the Philippines.” Sosa won the title last April 14 with a unanimous decision over Brian Viloria, the former world champion and a member of the US boxing contingent in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games although he traces his roots to the Northern Philippine province of Ilocos Sur.
Sulaiman suggested that the Filipino promoter of Rubillar ( 42-10-7, 19 KO’s) to send a proposal to the WBC adding “we will do our best to make it happen.”
Rubillar, his trainer Roel Marata and manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr said their dream was to get the 30 year old southpaw one last crack at the world title because according to Elorde “Juanito deserves it” following his smashing fifth round knockout victory over game and tough Japanese challenger Ken Nakajima last Sunday in Osaka.
The trio was scheduled tol pay a courtesy call on Philippine Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain Tuesday morning. Buhain said “we will tall about Rubillar’s future and maybe put in a good word with the WBC” to help get him a title fight which could possibly be staged to coincide with the WBC Annual Convention in Manila this November.
The 27 year old Sosa (27-5, 14 KO’s) makes the first defense of his title against 36 year old Argentinean Luis Alberto Lazarte who is rated No. 1 by the WBC at the All State Arena in Chicago on August 4. Lazarte is followed in the ratings by Omar Salado of Mexico, Brian Viloria and Rubillar. However, following his win over Nakajima, OPBF champion Rubillar is expected to move ahead of Viloria and could probably even be ranked No. 1.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 16 Sep 2025SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Smarts over power
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Sep 2025HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
Tue, 16 Sep 2025Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
Tue, 16 Sep 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 15 Sep 2025A New King, A New Challenger: Turki Alalshikh Proposes Crawford-Benavidez While Canelo Alvarez Faces Defeat with Humility
By Dong Secuya, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Highly Questionable Title Eliminator
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Earns Silver Medal at Inaugural World Boxing Championships
Mon, 15 Sep 202521-year-old Filipino wins at Germany rapid chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Nagoya Nightmare: Naoya Inoue Notches One-Sided Decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Inoue’s Philippine Connection: Which Pinoy Super Bantamweight Could Challenge “The Monster?”
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to the Finals at the World Boxing Championships Perez Set to Face Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang for 54-Kilogram World Title
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025