Rubillar Arrives Back Home After Win

By Rey Danseco
 
ORIENTAL and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar came home on Monday without a hero’s welcome from the Philippine government despite his smashing performance that made the Filipinos proud after defending his title Sunday in Osaka, Japan.

The soft-spoken Filipino champion never complains or looks for attention upon his arrival along with trainer Roel Morata, manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. and this writer, who worked in the 12-round bout as one of the three judges at Nishinari Center.

The 30-year old who is rated No. 4 by the World Boxing Council, said the time will come when he “will get noticed” like other Filipino fighters after winning in televised bouts in the United States.

Rubillar retained the WBC’s regional 108-pound title with impressive fifth round knockout win over sixth ranked Ken Nakajima, gutsy Japanese from Osaka.
Rubillar floored Nakajima twice in the round with vicious body shots and forced Thai scoring-referee Sinchai Goonlawong to jump in and stopped the carnage at 2 minutes 42 seconds of the fifth round.

“What matters most is I kept the crown. I am a Filipino and this championship is for you,” said Rubillar. “I know when they learned the news about my victory, its one reason for them to be proud of as Pinoy.”

But the newly elected officials at Rubillar’s hometown, headed by board member-elect Eric Rabat of Davao Oriental, are planning to set a hero’s welcome for the champion in Davao Oriental after their proclamation on July 1.

Some Filipino Overseas Workers in Osaka watched the bout and showed their appreciation in Rubillar’s notable performance in the jam packed venue of the seven-fight card of Green Tsuda Promotions.

They mobbed Rubillar, who signed autographs and posed for camera with Filipinos and Japanese fans, after the fight.

Team Rubillar celebrated the sweet victory in a Filipino Restaurant called Tapsilog at Minami, a red-light district in the City where japayukis are working.

They ate tortang talong, rice, crispy pata, nilagang baka. Elorde, this writer, Goonlawong, and Takashi Inoue, who fetched and sent the Team to and from the Airport, drank cold Philippine San Miguel Beer and San Mig Light.

With a taxi ride to Namba ward train station to Airport, it took only an hour for the Team Rubillar to reach the Airport from Toyoko Inn in Chuo ward.

Compared to their arrival, Inoue brought them from the airport to hotel for about two hours with four rides in trains and approximately a kilometer walk.

Inoue also let Rubillar walk going to Tanimachi-4chome station where they were brought to the fight venue. Rubillar learned after the fight that Nishinara is just seven kilometers from their hotel and a trip by taxi is easier than taking a subway.

The scorecards of the three judges showed the fight was even after four rounds. Japanese judge Hisatoshi Miyazaki and this writer saw the fight in favor of their compatriots with an identical 39-37 tally. Goonlawong scored the bout even, 38-38.