By Rey Danseco
Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar will have a tune-up fight prior to his expected difficult title defense.
Rubillar will face veteran Ronnie Canete of Cebu in a 10-round light flyweight bout as main event of Barangay captain Victor Ulanday boxing show on Saturday, February 17 in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
Also slated in the card is the clash between veteran pugilists Celso Danggod, former Philippine champion, and Acasio “Flash” Simbajon in another 10-rounder in flyweight division.
The 29-year old Rubillar is slated to put his title on the line for the first time on April 24 in Honolulu, Hawaii since winning the vacant belt in October last year with stoppage win over Indonesian champion Irfan Ogah in Trece Martires City.
Rubillar’s challenger will be Japanese Ken Nakajima, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title challenger.
Canete is known as one of few fighters who floored WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam before losing his poise and lost with third round stoppage as a tune-up opponent in April 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Paranaque City-trainer native of Mati town in Davao Oriental aims another title shot within the year after his expected win over Canete and Nakajima.
Rubillar, currently ranked No. 7 in the world by WBC, lost in close decisions in IBF minimuweight title fight and WBC light flyweight championship bouts in 1999 and 2004, respectively.