By Rey Danseco
THE promoter and manager of top ranked boxer Juanito Rubillar has informed the World Boxing Council (WBC) about their interest to participate in the purse bids on April 7 with aim of taking the right to stage the mandatory fight against WBC light flyweight champ Brian Viloria in the Philippines.
In a letter sent yesterday to Mexico City, Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. told WBC president Jose Sulaiman his readiness to put down his $150,000 purse (more than P7.6 million) offer to Viloria with Los Angeles-Manila-Los Angeles round trip airplane tickets and free hotel and meals for up to four people in Team Viloria.
“We are ready for the purse bidding in case Viloria does not accept my offer of $150,00 and four air tickets, we really want this fight to be held in Philippines,” Elorde told Sulaiman. “We believe that this will boost the WBC to become No. 1 in Philippines and Asia.”
Elorde is looking around Metro Manila or Viloria’s native province of Ilocos Sur, through Gov. Chavit Singson’s support, as probable venue of the anticipated 12-round fight.
In case Elorde wins in the bidding that will be conducted at the WBC Executive Offices in Mexico City, it will be the first all-Filipino pro-boxing championship and also first WBC title fight to be set in the country in almost a decade.
The last time the Philippines staged a WBC championship fight was in December 1997 in Koronadal, South Cotabato where Luisito Espinosa defended the WBC featherweight title with 6th round stoppage win over previously unbeaten challenger Carlos Rios of Argentina.
In the purse bid, Viloria’s handler Gary Gittelsohn and his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank have only two options –- accept Elorde’s offer to fight in the Philippines or make a higher counter offer to acquire the right to promote the fight in the United States or elsewhere.
Arum is reported reserve a slot for Viloria in the undercard of his promotion on June 10 at Madison Square Garden in New York where the Miguel Cotto-Paul Malignaggi tiff for World Boxing Organization light welterweight title is scheduled in the main event.
WRONG REPORT
Meanwhile in world exclusive interview, Sulaiman denied the report copied from Mexico of a Cebu-based contributor and published by a Filipino boxing website on March 29 that “Viloria will most likely defend his title for the second time in a grudge rematch with Jose Antonio Aguirre, whom he had beaten last time out after 12 rounds of grueling action at the Alladin Casino in Las Vegas.”
The contributor never gave credit to where he copied the report and quoted Aguirre of saying his manager,” Erik (Morales) has confidence in being able to negotiate for a rematch with the champion.”
“The WBC has no news other than the scheduled (Viloria-Rubillar) purse offer,” insisted Sulaiman.
