RUBILLAR WINS OPBF TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Oct 2006
Veteran Juanito Rubillar scored a smashing seventh round TKO victory over talented and game 19 year old Indonesian champion Irfan Ogah to win the vacant Orient Pacific Boxing Federation light flyweight title before a massive crowd at the Trece Martirez City Gymnasium late Saturday.
The 29 year old is determined to get one more crack at the world title following two close battles with Mexican warrior Jorge Arce and after being denied a mandatory shot at the crown previously held by Brian Viloria because of an injury to Viloria, thrilled fight fans with his aggressiveness against Ogah who was willing to stand in front of the Filipino southpaw and trade punches.
Rubillar used vicious body shots and a perfect left straight to keep Ogah backing off after the Indonesian opened with a flurry of combinations to take the opening round. Rubillar, a veteran of 56 fights as against the 21 of Ogah used his experience to advantage against the taller Indonesian after hurting him with a solid right to the ribs in the second round.
Rubillar came out on top in several torrid exchanges that had the fans screaming almost throughout. Rubillar opened up a nasty gash just under the right eyebrow of Ogah after a flurry of punches in round seven forcing renowned international referee Bruce McTavish to call a halt and have the Indonesian checked by the ringside doctor who recommended that the fight be stopped. The time was 1:08 of round seven.
With the TKO victory Rubillar improved to 40-10-7 with 18 KO’s while Ogah dropped to 16-2-4 with 7 KO’s.
McTavish spoke to Ogah’s corner before the start of the fateful round and told them that the Indonesian was taking too much punishment and perhaps they should consider throwing in the towel should he continue to get battered by Rubillar or he would stop the fight. They didn’t have to resort to that because Rubillar ended it with a cracking punch that opened up a nasty cut that forced a halt to the exciting encounter.
Rubillar who was denied a mandatory title shot against Viloria whose injured hand forced the WBC to have Rubillar take on No.2 contender Wandee Sinwangcha for the interim title, lost a controversial decision in Bangkok last July 18. However, Wandee failed to make the weight in his first defense against Japan’s Munetsugu Kayo in Tokyo last week and although the Thai won the bout the title was declared vacant.
Rubillar’s manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde is hoping that his ward would either get a shot at the winner of the planned rematch between Viloria and Omar Nino Romero to whom Viloria lost the title in a lopsided fight last August 10 or get a rematch against Wandee in Manila.
Even veteran referee McTavish was impressed with the showing of Rubillar saying “ I frankly thought he was a shot fighter. But he looks like he’s got his second wind. He looked really good.”
In the main supporting bout Indonesia’s undefeated No.1 minimum weight Sofyan Efendi who had a record of 14-0-1 with 6 KO’s was robbed of a decision over Filipino southpaw Steve Dimaisip (12-15, 5 KO’s) who, despite battling gamely with an injured left hand from the third round onwards, clearly took a beating from the 18 year old Efendi. However, while judge Ramon Flores scored it fairly for the Indonesian 78-74 , judge Henry Verniz surprisingly saw it even at 76-76 while the third judge Ricardo Hayag who must have been watching another fight or was perhaps dazzled by the attractive Viva Hot Babes Carla Samonte and Scarlet Boufard who were the Tanduay round girls, had Dimaisip the winner by a margin of 78-74 resulting in a split draw.
Meantime undefeated Drian Francisco kept his winning streak going with a fifth round TKO victory over veteran Alex Guevarra and earned a shot at the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title according to his manager Bebot Elorde. Francisco, a stylish fighter with punching power scored his fourth successive TKO win this year with the stoppage against Guevara at 2:24 of round five after he hurt Guevarra with a thundering left to the side of the body.
The Rubillar-Ogah title fight will be telecast on the top rated weekly boxing show “The Main Event” at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow over RPN 9 sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum. It will also be replayed over the Viva Prime sports and entertainment channel.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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