SULAIMAN PREDICTS SOSA-RUBILLAR WILL BE A GOOD FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 24 Nov 2008
While most Mexicans believe that WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa (33-5, 17 KO?s) is at his prime and will be too good for 31 year old Filipino veteran Juanito Rubillar (46-10-7, 22 KO?s) WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman believes it will be a ?good fight.?
In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Sulaiman observed that Rubillar ?has a good chin and can take a punch? adding that ?its difficult to knock him out.?
Sulaiman conceded that Sosa is at his prime and has ?trained very well and very hard for this fight? while the Mexican champion himself conceded that the Filipino southpaw will provide ?the toughest challenge? of his career.
Sulaiman said there was a lot of interest generated in Mexico City for the fight since Rubillar is know for his swarming, non-stop aggressive style which enabled him to win the WBC title eliminator by a split decision over former champion Omar Nino Romero last June 14.
Rubillar had previously battled Mexican warrior Jorge Arce for the title and lost by decision with the decision in the second fight regarded as controversial.
Rubillar who is handled by Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde knows that this is his last chance for a crack at the world crown and plans to go all out to win having fought for the title four times before and lost.
Upon his arrival in Mexico City after a long and tiring flight, journalist Rey Danseco who is also a boxing judge and will work the Rubillar title fight quoted the challenger as saying he had trained for three months including one week in California and will ?win by either by knockout or decision and bring back the belt to the Philippines where it belongs.?
Rubillar complained of a slight back pain and tiredness but was otherwise in good spirits. His trainer Roel Morata checked Rubillar?s weight before leaving Los Angeles and he tipped the scales at 110 pounds. Morata said ?he has no problem in weight.?
Danseco quoted Morata as saying ?Rubillar is a complete fighter now. He can box, he can fight.?
Sosa has successfully defended his title seven times in the past 18 months including a unanimous decision over twelve rounds in his last defense against another Filipino, hard-hitting Sonny Boy Jaro who dropped him in the 9th round but couldn?t put the champion away as he out-boxed Jaro most of the fight.
Sosa won the vacant title in a clash with Hawaii-based Filipino Brian Viloria in April 2007. At that time the WBC had declared the title vacant after Omar Nino Romero who retained the crown which he won from Viloria in a majority draw in their rematch, tested positive for a banned substance in November 2006.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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