Juanito Rubbilar Dispatches of Rajagym in Two
By Rey Danseco
MATI City – Hard-hitting WBC No. 2 Juanito “Cocoy” Rubillar dispatched the ambitious Thai fighter Garabod Rajagym in the second round on Saturday night as around 5,000 enthusiastic fans cheered on at Cultural Center in the Southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental.
Rubillar hurt Rajagym, who real name is Kriangkari Kaewnongsamet, with seven punches, including the hard right hook that staggered and floored the Thai fighter.
The 18-year -ld native of Bangkok dropped on his pants and crumbled on the floor as he failed to get back to his feet on two tries. Referee Virgilio Abainza stopped the carnage at 2:20 mark of the second round.
Rubillar improved his record to 45-10-7 with 22 knockouts and he will take a few days rest before going back to the gym to prepare for the scheduled fight against former World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight champion Omar Nino (25-2-1, 11 KOs) in their mandated eliminator bout on June 7 at the Arena Mexico in Mexico City.
“He’s strong and seems a man with a mission. But I will never let him fulfill his prediction of hurting me or knocking me out inside of four rounds,” said Rubillar, who will come to Mexico around 10 days prior to the bout against the crafty WBC No. 1 Nino.
As the winner in Rubillar-Nino collision will get the right to face WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa of Mexico this year, Davao Oriental board member Eric Rabat and his older sister, Mayor Michelle Rabat of Mati City, who sponsored the entire boxing show, have full support for the 31-year old slugger-fighter.
Rabat will join the Team Rubillar, headed by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr, in his quest.
On the undercard of the weekly show that will be shown by Elorde Boxing Tour over RPN 9 starting May 25, lanky bantam Dexter Mendoza stopped Reggie Benueza with vicious uppercut to the midsection in round 8.
RP light flyweight king Celso Danggod exerted so much effort before he earned a unanimous decision win over Rico Genon over 10 rounds.
Silvester “Stalone” Lopez knocked out Romnick Rapista at 2:52 of round 2; Jetly Purisima dominated Ronquillo Salvador over 8 rounds after Rocky Sardido beat Rex Esparagosa with split decision.
This writer, who served as one of the judges, scored the fight 58-56 for Sardido, who was also favored by the second official with his tally reading 59-55. The third judge Satur Yongco favored Esparagosa, 58-56.
In dual tournament with four pairs of amateur bouts, Mati City beat Davao City, 4-0.