By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Juanito Rubillar, terribly frustrated by Brian Viloria avoiding a mandatory defense of his WBC light flyweight title which he subsequently lost in a lopsided decision to handpicked challenger Oscar Nino Romero, is determined to get a title shot in the future especially if Viloria defeats Romero in their November 18 rematch.
Rubillar who dropped to No. 5 in the WBC ratings after he lost what some considered a controversial hometown decision in an interim title fight against No.2 ranked Wandee Singwangcha last July 18 hopes to regain his mandatory challenger status by winning the vacant OPBF title in a battle with undefeated Indonesian champion Irfan Ogah on September 23 in Manila.
International promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr said the exciting fight card which will showcase the former world No. 1 contender will be a tribute to the late Lope “Papa” Sarreal, the :”Grand Old Man” of boxing who was also Elorde’s grandfather and handled the career of the late, great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for almost seven-and-a-half years.
Elorde said the undefeated Ogah is a solid puncher and will be a stiff test for the southpaw Rubillar who is determined to bounce back from his loss to Wandee and has his eyes set on a third crack at the world title. Rubillar twice lost to the hard-hitting Jorge Arce in Mexico with their rematch ending in a very controversial split decision.
In the main supporting bout WBE light flyweight champion Jun Arlos clashes with another rugged Indonesian Sopyan Ependi, the No.1 ranked Indonesian light flyweight, in a ten round showdown.
In what is expected to be another slambang affair among women, Jujeath Nagawa of Baguio who had the fans at the Mandaluyong City Gym on their feet when she clashed with Maguindanao’s Baina Lindo last August 26, takes on Elsie Kwon of Laguna in what promises to be a six round slugfest.
