By Ronnie Nathanielsz
OPBF light flyweight champion Juanito Rubillar is reportedly scheduled to fight Ulises Solis for the IBF title in Dubai on April 4, apparently scuttling the WBC mandated title eliminator against former world champion Omar Nino.
Dante Ortiz informed us some weeks ago that he had arranged a title fight for
Rubillar who would get a purse of $25,000.
However, there is a managerial dispute involving Rubillar who originally signed up with Arlene Elorde, wife of Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, then signed up with Ortiz and former world junior welterweight champion Morris East and even trained under East at the Main Event Gym in Quezon City before suddenly returning to the Elorde camp.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman was clearly concerned over the developments since Rubillar was rated No. 2 by the WBC and is that organization’s OPBF champion. Besides, negotiations had begun for a possible title eliminator in Manila against Omar Nino.
Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Dr. Nasser Cruz said it was a confusing situation.
Reports of the Rubillar-Solis title fight on the undercard of the IBF/IBO title clash between Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire – Hussein Hussein in Dubai was reported by Super Sports and several other boxing sites and confirmed by those close to the promoters.
Elorde himself admitted that Rubillar had asked for and received money from Ortiz and East while Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that he was already asking for an advance of his purse for the battle with Solis.
IBF Championship Committee Chairman Lindsey Tucker said he had not received any official request to sanction the Solis-Rubillar title fight but added “if I did I would approve it.”
