ELORDE REJECTS IBF TITLE SHOT FOR RUBILLAR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Apr 2008
Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde whose wife Arlene is the recognized manager of light flyweight Juanito Rubillar has rejected the offer of an IBF title fight against Ulises Solis after having earlier signed a contract in the presence of Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain and turning his back on a WBC title eliminator against former champion Omar Nino.
The title fight was scheduled to take place on the undercard of the IBF flyweight championship between Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire and Australia?s Hussein Hussein in Dubai on April 18 in a card promoted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala and the Third Force promotional outfit. However, the event was canceled when the Dubai partners failed to keep their financial commitments.
Well-known promoter/manager Sammy Gello-ani along with respected international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz salvaged the fight by moving the title fight to May 17 in Mexico City. Gello-ani yesterday forwarded a contract for Rubillar and committed to ?advance the $5,000 payment to you (Elorde) upon signing of the contract.?
However, Elorde rejected the offer claiming that after ?what we had experienced with you, Sampson (Lewkowicz) and Noli (Eala) we would rather not deal with you guys anymore.?
In his reply to Gello-ani, Elorde claimed ? we sacrificed and relinquished the OPBF title and WBC No,. 2 ranking of Rubillar just to abide by the fight contract that we agreed and signed? for the Dubai card. He also pointed out that the advance of $5,000 was ?not given to the boxer as stated in the fight contract which should have been given upon signing of the fight contract.?
Viva Sports which covered the contract signing noted that Arlene Elorde asked for the $5,000 immediately but Gello-ani stated they would receive the money after the signed contract was submitted and ratified by the IBF.
The contract for the title fight against Solis was signed even as efforts were being made by president Sulaiman to have the title eliminator between Rubillar and former champion Omar Nino finalized. In fact when Sulaiman learned that Rubillar had signed to fight for the IBF title without even giving the WBC the courtesy of informing them, he had Rubillar stricken off the WBC ratings.
In an email to GAB chairman Eric Buhain, Don Jose Sulaiman said he was ?feeling very embarrassed for the way the family (Elorde) has treated the WBC and myself." He said that if Rubillar ?comes to Mexico to fight for a different title it will be a slap in the WBC?s and my face.?
Sulaiman informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Elorde had gone back to him after the Dubai fight card was canceled and pleaded for the Rubillar-Omar Nino eliminator to be revived and blamed others for what had happened. Sulaiman said he had spoken to Omar Nino?s promoter who was prepared to stage the title eliminator in Mexico and offered Rubillar a purse of $25,000 which is the same amount he was offered by Gello-ani and Lewkowicz to fight Solis for the IBF title.
Viva Sports also learned that Rubillar some two weeks ago approached the son of Rod Nazario, the former business manager of Manny Pacquiao, offering to sign up with him as manager. However, Nazario told his son Rommel not to touch Rubillar who had previously also signed up with Dante Ortiz and Morris and received money from them.
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