By Ronnie Nathanielsz
OPBF light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar battles South Korean champion Byung Joo Lee in a mandatory title defense on November 12 at the Elorde Sports Complex on Sucat Road, Paranaque.
Lee is the No.1 ranked OPBF light flyweight and has a record of 8-3 with 2 knockouts. He is an orthodox fighter who stands 5’5” and is 24 years old. Lee won the vacant Korean light flyweight title with a fourth round knockout over Yong Suk In last February 6 and successfully defended the crown with a unanimous ten round decision over Hak Sun Choi on April 28.
The veteran southpaw Rubillar is 30 years old and has a record of 40-10-7 with 18 knockouts. Rubillar who is managed by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde won the vacant OPBF title with a seventh round TKO over tough Indonesian Irfan Ogah who had a record of 16-1-4 with 7 knockouts.
In his first title defense Rubillar scored a smashing fifth round knockout over Japan’s Ken Nakajima on June 24 this year, sending the Japanese into retirement.
In his last fight on September 15, Rubillar scored a second round knockout over Philippine No. 10 Arnel Tadena.
Rubillar is currently rated No. 3 by the WBC and unfortunately failed to get a mandatory crack at Brian Viloria when Viloria claimed he had an injured hand at a time that Rubillar was No.1. However, no sooner had Rubillar signed to fight Wandee Singwancha of Thailand for the interim title which he eventually lost on a twelve round decision, Viloria announced he would defend his title against Jose Antonio Aguirre.
