RUBILLAR WINS TITLE ELIMINATOR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 16 Jun 2008
Juanito Rubillar has scored a split decision win over former WBC light flyweight champion Omar Nino in a title eliminator in Mexico and earned a shot at reigning champion Edgar Sosa.
Well-known boxing writer James Blears informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that while the decision was in doubt the Mexican crowd was ?neither outraged or sympathetic.?
Two judges, veteran American Steve Morrow and Filipino sports editor Rey Danseco had it 116-114 in favor of Rubillar. However, the third judge Herminio Cuevas of Mexico had Omar Nino winning by a ridiculous 118-111 margin.
Among those at special ringside were Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Lagdameo and wife Linda. Former world champion, Mexican legend Erik ?El Terrible? Morales was also at ringside and was quoted as saying Rubillar ?hits so hard and effective.?
Blears described the 31 year old southpaw Rubillar as ?tough, rugged and persistent? and said he ?out hustled the former world champion to pull-off a surprise split decision.?
Blears indicated that based on his performance Rubillar wont last too long against champion Edgar Sosa who hammered Japan?s Takashi Kunishige before the referee called a halt in the eighth round.
He said the Rubillar-Nino fight turned into a ?yawnfest greeted by a chorus of whistles and choice comments from the increasingly impatient crowd.? Blears, a respected boxing writer said that the long and enforced absence of Nino from the ring after he tested positive for a banned substance following a draw in his title retention rematch with Brian Viloria.
He said Nino showed signs of rust although he ?started brightly throwing some spiteful body shots. But as the fight wore on the Palacio De Los Deportes Stadium echoed more and more with jeers.?
Rubillar showed little finesse but his ?bull-like strength and bullying bulldozing tactics caught the judges as well as Omar?s eyes.? Blears reported that Omar ?faded badly down the final stretch and there was a round of boos to finish twelve lackluster rounds.?
Rubillar has a record of 46-10-7 with 22 knockouts while Nino who was rated No.1 by the WBC prior to the title eliminator against the No.2 ranked Rubillar is now 25-3-1, 11 KO?s.
(L-R): Joel Ocsena of the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, promoter Gabriel 'Bebot' Elorde, Jr., trainer Roel Morata, Philippine ambassador to Mexico Antonio Lagdameo, Juanito Rubillar and journalist Rey Danseco pose at the dugout after Rubillar's win against Omar Nino Romero in Mexico City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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