By Rey Danseco
WORLD rated Juanito Rubillar is 100-percent ready. His opponent is also expected in tip-top shape after he has arrived Tuesday night night in Manila from Surabaya, Indonesia.
The undefeated Indonesian light flyweight champion Irfan Ogah had checked into Manila around 7 pm in a five hour trip from Surabaya via Singapore with another boxer Sofyan Efendi, their trainer Eric Pirih and wife, and Indonesian judge Muhammad Ruiz.
Promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. fetched the 5-man Indonesian contingent and checked them in at Lotus Hotel in Manila.
Pirih revealed that his 19-year old boxer is trained to knockout Rubillar in their schedule 12-round for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight title on Friday the 13th card in the seat of the Cavite provincial government, Trece Martirez City, approximately 66 km south of Manila, Philippines.
“Ogah is a pressure fighter who never backpedals because he has confidence in his power punches,” said Pirih in exclusive interview yesterday. Pirih didn’t give a hint on what round will be their expected knockout win.
“I trained him for three months that’s why he has confidence in his techniques,” said the 29-year old trainer and the youngest of four children of Surabaya shipping magnate, Eddy Pirih, who will arrive today for the official weigh in at the Games and Amusement Board office in Makati City.
“His stamina is good and also having excellent defense that makes difficult for Rubillar to break despite your boxer is a good puncher.”
Ogah defended his national title trice to improve his stock to 18-0-1, 7 knockouts. He is rated No. 1 by the OPBF while Rubillar (39-10-7, 17 KOs) is ranked No. 6 in the world under WBC light flyweight champion Omar Nino of Mexico.
Efendi, who is reigning Indonesian interim minimumweight champ, will exchange leathers with veteran Steve Dimaisip, who substituted Jun Arlos, in a 10-round non-title fight in the undercard.
Also slated is the acid test for unbeaten flyweight prospect Draian Francisco (8-0, 5 KOs) in the undercard. Francisco, who took a moniker from this writer as “Little Espinosa” will be tested by veteran Alex Guevarra for another tenner.
Elorde wants to gauge if Francisco is ready to fight in his planned installation on November 25 in Mandaluyong City for the vacant World Boxing Organization Asia pacific flyweight title against foreign opposition.
Francisco, 23, moves and throws punches like the great former WBA bantamweight and WBC featherweight champion Luisito Espinosa. He is training under former two-time world flyweight king Erbito Salavarria in Quezon City.
