By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Boxing in Mexico City which is a hotbed of the sport has been hard hit by the swine flu epidemic as the government has taken several emergency measures following the reported death of 160 people.
The president of the pre-eminent World Boxing Council, Don Jose Sulaiman told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports in an overseas telephone conversation from his home that “there’s no entertainment at all and the government has closed all the schools and restaurants.”
Sulaiman said it has also greatly affected boxing as we have “suspended all the boxing events in the city.”
He said “we are all at home and don’t go out and I also asked the WBC people to go home until the government says its safe.”
However, Sulaiman disclosed that former world title challenger Juanito Rubillar (46-11-7, 22 KO’s) who won praise for his fighting heart even though he lost by a 7th round TKO toe by WBC champion Edgar Sosa in a title fight last December after scoring a close split decision win over Omar Nino (27-3-1, 11 KO’s) in a title eliminator last June 14 is scheduled to face Omar Nino in a rematch that will hopefully take place on May 16 in the beautiful town of Xcaret in Cancun.
Sulaiman “it’s not dangerous because there is no flu over there.”
