By Rey Danseco
As the No. 1 light flyweight in the world, according to the WBC, any loss would cost Juanito Rubillar the status of mandatory challenger to the WBC light flyweight title.
Rubillar is unfazed of risking everything as he makes a ring appearance in a 10-round non-title fight with the tough Ronnie Cañete in the main event of Bakbakan sa Elorde card at Grand Flash Ballroom of Elorde Sports Center (ESC) in Sucat, Paranaque City, Manila, Philippines on Saturday night (Friday morning in the United States).
Rubillar (37-9-7, 17 KOs) has been assured by the WBC of a mandatory championship fight against compatriot Brian “Pinoy Punch” Viloria (19-0, 12 KOs) for the WBC 108-lb title, tentatively set on May 6 also at ESC.
"I know I don’t have much to gain but everything to lose in this fight. But I need this fight to practice my skills that I want to use for Viloria,” said Rubillar (37-9-7, 17 KOs).
But Cañete said, Rubillar made a mistake of taking him.
“I’m a hungry fighter and no pushover,” said Cañete, who nearly scored a first round knockout over reigning WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand in their non-title fight in April 2004 in Nakornrachasima, Thailand.
Cañete lost control and let Wonjongkam to recover until he was stopped in the third round.
In Sept. 2003, Cañete pushed Eric Barcelona to the limit in their 12-round bout for vacant Philippine super flyweight title at the Municipal Gym in Guimbal, Iloilo.
In his last fight, the Cebuano fighter gave RP No. 10 Jun Pader a hard fight, but lost by way of a split decision in the main event on Feb. 5 in Dalaguete, Cebu after he disposed Eric Rapada in Mandaue City on Sep. 19, 2005.
Undefeated featherweight prospect Rey Labao takes on Roberto Moreno in only other 10-round bout in the card that is composed of nine pairs of bouts in 50 rounds. First fight starts at 7 pm.
RODEL “Kid Rapido” Mayol gets his chance to fight for a world title on May 6 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Mayol, 24, challenges WBC minimumweight champion Eagle Kyowa, a Japan-based Thai fighter.
On the undercard, reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight champ Malcolm Tuñacao puts his title on the line against Japanese Yasuo Kijima.
Mayol, undefeated in 22 fights with 17 knockouts, scored an impressive fourth round knockout of North American Boxing Federation (NABF) 105-lb champion Lorenzo Trejo in an eliminator fight in Cancun, Mexico on Jan. 28.
Kyowa, 27, was in attendance in Mexico and now knows what Mayol can bring in the ring.
The 5-3 ½ champion defended his title for the first time with a 7th round knockout win over Japanese Ken Nakajima after he regain the belt with unanimous decision win over erstwhile champion Katsunari Takayama in August of last year.
Kyowa has 15-1, 6 KOs record. The only blemish in his record was registered a TKO in the fourth round when he retired due to an injury in his right shoulder in a title fight with Mexican Isaac Bustos on Dec. 18, 2004.
Tunacao (19-1-3, 13 KOs) will put the belt for the second time. He retained the title in his last fight with a controversial split draw against Japanese Kohei Ohba on Feb. 5. He took the title with a one-sided unanimous decision over Thai Kumarnthong Pluemkamol.
Kijima has a fine record of 19-8-2, 5 KO's. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Japanese bantam champ Sasha Bakhtin.
Mayol flew all by himself to Tokyo recently and returned to Mandaue City to start his training.
"Sinalubong lang siya ng kanyang manager at inihatid sa airport sa Tokyo after the press conference in connection ng WBC title fight on May 6," said Penalosa, whose Mayol and Tunacao's Japanese manager Yasuo Matsuoka is the godfather of his daughter.
