SULAIMAN REVIVES POSSIBLE RUBILLAR-OMAR NINO ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Apr 2008
Following an appeal from Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde, WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman has agreed to revive a possible light flyweight title eliminator between Juanito Rubillar and former champion Omar Nino.
Sulaiman had earlier stricken Rubillar from the WBC ratings after Elorde whose wife Arlene is the GAB-recognized manager of Rubillar signed a contract to fight Ulises Solis on the aborted Dubai promotion of the Third Force scheduled for this month.
Well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani who represented respected international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz who negotiated the title fight said Lewkowicz had arranged to move the fight to Mexico City in May. However, because of the changes and his failure to receive $5,000 advance, Elorde decided to go back to the WBC and appeal to Sulaiman.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from his home in Mexico City, Sulaiman said the Mexican promoter of Nino was ?offering $25,000 to Rubillar to fight in Mexico? adding that he believes ?that?s a very good purse.?
However, Elorde said he had not replied to the offer because he was looking for sponsors to support in staging the title eliminator in Manila.
In an email to Elorde, the WBC president said he had contacted Omar Nino who had ?expressed that he is ready to fight Juanito Rubillar in his country (Philippines) and was waiting for an offer.? At the same time Sulaiman said there were two promoters eager to stage the title eliminator in Mexico either on June 7 or July 5.
Sulaiman had earlier informed Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain that the WBC had ?already cancelled a direct fight between Omar Nino and the champion Edgar Sosa ?in order to act favorably on Elorde?s request.
The WBC president made his feelings known about Elorde?s decision to scrap the eliminator and instead sign a contract for an IBF title fight which he said was ?very disrespectful, unethical and ungrateful.?
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