By Rey Danseco
 
BANGKOK, Thailand – Hometown boxer Wandee Singwancha defeated top ranked contender Juanito Rubillar by way of unanimous decision over 12 rounds on Tuesday afternoon at the jam packed MCC Hall of the Mall Shopping Center.

The three foreign judges favored the second ranked Thai boxer, with Japan’s Kanaya Takeaki and Korean Jae-Bong Kim both having it 117-113. The third judge Brad Vocale surprisingly saw the bout as 117-111 also for Singwancha.

Rubillar didn’t believe when he heard what he describe a hometown decision from ring announcer.

"I know my best was good enough to win this fight. I was the aggressor who landed more telling blows, I couldn’t believe they awarded the decision to the loser,” said Rubillar.

Rubillar’s manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr, who was at ringside along with his wife Arlene, also hardly accepted the verdict, particularly Vocale’s scorecard.

“We all know that when you fight here (in Thailand), your only chance of winning would be by knockout. Juanito did his best, I admire him for showing he’s a real Filipino warrior, thus, in our eyes and maybe from millions of Thais who watched the fight live in television and at the venue all agreed that Juanito deserves to win,” said Elorde.

There was no knockdown as the two Southeast Asian boxers trade punches on almost even terms in each round.

With the win, the 26-year old Thai earn the promised of the Mexico-based WBC to get a shot at Filipino Brian Viloria’s WBC light flyweight title in mandatory fight.

Viloria, who refused to face the original mandatory challenger Rubillar early this year in Manila despite $150,000 purse offer, still needs to defend his title for the second time on August 10.

Renamed his moniker by Philippine president Gloria Arroyo to Pinoy Punch after making his first defense in February, Viloria will put his title on the line against 13th ranked Mexican Omar Nino Romero at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Rubillar and Singwancha pocketed $28,000 each in the fight. It was Rubillar’s second loss to that interim title after Mexico’s Jorge Arce scored his first of two wins in as many fights against the Filipino.

The Team Rubillar, including trainer Erbito Salavarria and Ruel Morata, will arrive home to Manila around 3:40 pm Wednesday.