By Jake Donovan
David Quijano scored a controversial technical unanimous decision stoppage win over Juanito Rubillar in their Telemundo-televised main event Friday evening at the Kissimmee (FL) Civic Center.
Scores were 96-94 across the board in their foul-filled bout, which ended on a headbutt as the ringside physician deemed Rubillar unfit to continue. Quijano initially celebrated in belief that he won by knockout, but was forced to sweat out a decision many believed should have went the other way.
The early rounds were fought at a cautious pace, as both fighters struggled to get going offensively. Quijano ramped up the attack in the third round, hurting Rubillar every time he pressed the action.
Quijano’s major problem throughout the fight was that he simply didn’t press the action often enough.
Rubillar picked up on his opponent’s reluctance and began to impose his will in the 4th round. Quijano did his best to stand and trade, but left himself wide open for right hands from the former title challenger.
The damage done early prompted Quijano to resume to boxer mode, serving him well in the middle rounds. Rubillar grew discouraged as he was more comfortable when the bout was fought at a phone booth’s pace. With that came a vicious body attack in the seventh, though several shots appeared to stray below the beltline.
Sensing that boxing alone wasn’t going to get the job done, Quijano began to dig in and throw with more conviction in the eighth. His most effective shot, however, was a headbutt that busted open Rubillar’s lip. Time was called to survey the flowing blood, but action quickly resumed.
For whatever reason, the sight of his opponent’s blood prompted Quijano to play keep away from the remainder of the aborted bout. Boxing from the outside in the ninth, few if any punches landed for the Puerto Rican, as Rubillar went into stalk mode.
Another clash of heads came about in the 10th round, this one far more severe than the previous occurrence. This time around the ringside physician deemed Rubillar unfit to continue, though the referee caused mass hysteria by immediately raising Quijano’s arm in victory, suggesting a TKO win.
Cooler heads prevailed, as the ringside officials clarified that the bout would go to the scorecard.
In Florida, the final round of a bout is supposed to be scored whether or not it is completed. Rubillar appeared to get the better of the action for as long as the 10th round lasted, but the judges either scored the blood or believed that Quijano boxed well enough early to build an insurmountable lead.
The 25-year old super flyweight picks up his 2nd straight win as a result, improving to 15-2-1 (10KO).
Rubillar heads back to Mexico having now lost five straight, as his record dips to 48-19-7 (23KO).
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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