By Rey Danseco
MEXICO CITY – WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa has rated his chances of retaining his title against veteran Juanito Rubillar at fifty-fifty.
The 29-year old Mexican-pride told me after gracing a mini-press conference along with Rubillar at the Comisión de Box del Distrito Federal (CBDF) inside Velodromo Agustin Melgar (Velodromo Olímpico), that this will be the biggest challenge in his career.
“He’s very experienced and strong that’s why I consider this fight as my hardest bout,” said Sosa, who will put his title for the seventh straight time on Saturday at the Arena Mexico here.
“I can say, I have a 50-50 chance to win,” Sosa revealed. “I’ll be happy if I could win by decision, as I can see a knockout will be so hard to do.”
Sosa said he trained for two months and sparred more or less 200 rounds compared to Rubillar who had a three months regimen, including at least five days of work-outs at the La Habra Boxing Club in California.
Rubillar, a southpaw, used at least four sparmates in his 110 rounds of sparring at his training camp Elorde Gym in St. Rita Village in Sucat, Paranaque City in Manila before going to California 14 days (Nov. 15) before the scheduled mandatory bout against Sosa. While working out at La Habra, administrator and trainer David Martinez let the airconditioned on to help the 31-year old Filipino acclimatize to the cold climate of the 7,349 feet above sea level of the Mexican capital.
A retired boxer, Mawi Perez helps Rubillar to get tough when they sparred for two three-round sessions at La Hambra on Nov. 12 and 14.
Perez weighs 150 pounds right now and stand 5-foot-5. He used to fight in the Philippines from bantamweight until he hanged up his gloves as an 8-rounder in featherweight and super featherweight.
Rubillar staggered Perez several times in their second and final sparring session. During the night at home, Perez admitted that he still felt the pain from Rubillar’s punches until he fell asleep and then asked former amateur boxer Tony Elorde if Rubillar felt the same.
“I told him, Rubillar is okay and feels no pain,” said Elorde, who takes care of the Team Rubillar at his older brother’s (former Philippine champion Ramon Elorde) spacious bungalow in Rowland Heights, California. The Elordes are younger brothers of the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and uncle of Rubillar’s handler Bebot Elorde.
La Habra Boxing Club has been known for producing quality fighters. Many professional fighters come there to spar in preparation for fights because of the talent produced being produced there. Carlos Palomino, Julio Ceaser Chavez, Danny Green, Mikkel Kessler, Shane Mosely, Alfonso Gomez and Olympic Champ Tyrell Biggs are just a few who have used the facility in the past for fight preparation.
“Now I am included in the lists of great boxers that went there at La Habra,” said Rubillar. “I know that I will face a great champion, but I also wanted to become a world champion and I know I can do it, whether by knockout or decision. There will be a new champion on Saturday.
“Imagine how huge when I come home to the Philippines with WBC light flyweight title belt. I’m so happy to show it to Filipinos, including to our President Gloria Arroyo.”
Sosa, who was standing at his challenger’s back in the crowded room, shaked his head in disagreement when he heared Rubillar’s confident declaration of taking away to him the title that he won against Fil-Am Brian Viloria with majority decision over 12 rounds in April 2007 and defended it in six straight occasions.
“We’ll see what happens,” said Sosa.
Like his dinner, Rubillar ate his lunch of assorted fruits (watermelon, papaya and melon to mention a few) and beef soup at the Restaurante of the 190 rooms and suites Hotel Benidorm then he immediately went to the Safety weigh-in procedures for seven day period prior to the bout at the third floor of the Boxeo de Gala Gym in Delegation Cuauhtemoc.
Without taking his bottled agua de natural, Rubillar took his bullet proof service van and drove with his trainer Roel Morata and promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr., who arrived Monday morning from Los Angeles, California.
Rubillar, who passed Sosa doing the sprint in the treadmill in the first floor of Boxeo de Gala Gym with his face and hands were the only exposed in flesh, tipped the scale 111.51 pounds with supervision of a WBC representative and before this reporter and Mexican print and broadcast mediamen and women.
“I don’t have problem with weight and I am not affected by high altitude and cold weather,” said Rubillar.
Sosa was 112 pounds and 40 oz last Saturday.
Last Sunday, fans and mediamen crowded Rubillar when he attended an hour mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the second most visited Roman Catholic shrine in the world.
Rubillar prayed for guidance and hope it will lead to victory against Sosa.
Newspapers here in Mexico published Rubillar’s photo while touching the image of Virgen de Guadalupe.
In the Philippines, Rubillar, his wife and their two sons and two daughters attend mass every Sunday along with the family of his handlers.
