By James Blears
At the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Juanito Rubillar (46-10-7, 22KOs)upset former world champion Omar Nino (25-3-1, 11KOs) by way of split-decision in a WBC mandated eliminator. The scores were 118-111 Rubillar, 115-113 Rubillar and 114-113 for Nino. Rubillar is now the mandatory challenger to WBC flyweight champion Edgar Sosa, who retained his title on the same card.
The fight turned into a yawnfest, greeted by a dawn chorus of whistles and choice comments from an increasingly impatient crowd. Omar who's long and enforced absence from the ring really showed in rust around the edges of his performances, started brightly enough throwing some spiteful body punches. But as the fight wore on, the Palacio De Los Deportes Stadium echoed more and more with jeers.
Southpaw Juanito showed little finese. But his bull like strengh and bullying bulldozing tactics caught the judges as well as Omar's eyes. As the contest wore on, Omar stuttered to single digit pot shotting, which was never going to end the fight. Omar faded badly down the final stretch, and there was a round of boos to finish twelve lack luster rounds.
The decision in was in doubt, but the Mexican crowd were neither outraged or sympathetic. Neither had been able to turn on any electricity, or turn out lights....or the internet as fast as the fleet footed stadium staff. It was by far the most disappointing shuffle of the night.