By Rey Danseco

TOP Filipino prospect Juanito Rubillar will wait a longer time than what he expected for his mandatory shot at the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title after the championship bout between champion Eric Ortiz against unbeaten Filipino-American Brian Viloria has been reset for September 10. The bout will be part of a card which will feature pound-for-pound icons Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales at the 19,000-seat Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions announced the new date of the Ortiz-Viloria tiff in a press conference for the Erik Morales versus Zahir Raheem and Manny Pacquiao against Hector Velasquez doubleheader.

The bout was originally slated on Saturday, July 30 on the undercard of the “Million Dollar Lady” card that should featured the clash between Christy Martin versus unbeaten Lucia “The Dutch Destroyer” Rijker at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Martin-Rijker card has been cancelled after Rijker injured her Achilles tendon during training.

Before the postponement happened, Rubillar, who is rated No. 2 under top ranked Viloria by the WBC in the 105-lb class, was expecting to fight the winner between Ortiz and Viloria sometime in January or February of 2006.

“With this postponement, Juanito will wait at least another two months on March or April,” said Rubillar’s manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. yesterday.

However, Elorde said the third shot of his Davao Oriental-native fighter for the WBC diadem might happen three months in the Philippines after the duel of Viloria and Ortiz if there will be having sponsors.

In the WBC, the world champion is entitled to a least $120,000 purse in a title bout and $20,000 for the challenger.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman officially assigned Rubillar as mandatory challenger in a letter dated February 22, 2005 with copies sent to Elorde, Viloria’s manager Gary Gitelson, the WBC Board of Governors, Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation, and Games and Amusement Board.