By Rey Danseco

WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa will have at least one more chance to hone his skills before facing his mandatory challenger and top ranked contender Juanito Rubillar.

Respected WBC president Jose Sulaiman informed Rubillar’s promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. and this writer about his decision on letting Sosa to make a title defense against a challenger of his choice instead of taking on his mandated challenger Rubillar.

 “The WBC had given Sosa’s promoter (Jacques fils Deschamps) the authorization for one voluntary defense,” Sulaiman said in his letter dated yesterday.

Sosa will make a back-to-back title fight at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on September 20 for his sixth attempt to defend the title that he capture by beating erstwhile titlist Brian Viloria in April of last year with a majority decision win in San Antonio, Texas.

The three-decade president of WBC reasoned that Sosa was supposedly to have fought Carlos Melo on April 19 in Haiti but political turmoil postponed the bout.

Sosa, instead waited another two months before he climbs into the ring and then stopped Japanese Takashi Kunishige in round 8 at the Palacio de los Deportes on June 14 where on the same card where Rubillar beat another former titlist, Omar Nino, with a split decision to earn the right to face Sosa in a championship fight this year.

Sulaiman assured Rubillar’s title shot and he made clear that Deschamps recognizes the obligation for mandatory title bout between the 28-year old champion and the Manila-based No. 1 contender.

“Once they go ahead with that authorized defense, Sosa must defend his title mandatorily with Rubillar,” said Sulaiman. “There is the opportunity also, that his promoter Deschamps picks Juanito, and we will proceed with it.”

Early Monday, Rubillar’s promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. reminded Sulaiman and his son, WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman, about their intention of pursuing the Rubillar-Sosa bout.

“Just wanted you to know that Juanito Rubillar is ready to fight Sosa for the WBC Lightflyweight title in September 2008,” said Elorde. “And as per our agreement the winner of the Final Eliminator between Rubillar vs. Omar Nino will be the next challenger for Sosa’s WBC light flyweight title.”