By Rey Danseco
 
THE World Boxing Council (WBC) sent a strong message that will leave no doubts about light flyweight champion Brian Viloria preventing his mandatory fight against Juanito Rubillar in his next appearance.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman categorically stated in this writer’s interview yesterday that his approval on the petition of Viloria’s American promoter Bob Arum of Las Vegas-based Top Rank to move the scheduled April 7 purse bid two weeks later on April 21 was his last consent for any changes regarding the mandatory WBC light flyweight battle.

Sulaiman has approved Arum's April 3 request to postpone the purse bids due to the champ’s right hand injury and Arum was busy with a major boxing event on April 8 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas where Floyd Mayweather captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title from fellow American boxer Zab Judah.

That decision has not prevent Rubillar’s manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. to presume that Arum is seriously considering to set up Viloria against another foe and prevent the  veteran Paranaque-based challenger from receiving his title shot.

But, WBC top honcho also made it very clear that Viloria couldn’t choose any opponent other than Rubillar, the No. 1 contender.

“The WBC did not and will not accept a substitution fight. The mandatory defense stays,” Sulaiman continued in his correspondence to this writer. 

“The WBC announced that there will be no more postponements and that no other fight will be accepted,” Sulaiman said.

Sulaiman’s statement also dismissed a report copied from Mexico of a Cebu-based contributor and published by major daily newspaper, and a Filipino boxing website on March 29th, 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.

“The WBC has no news other than the scheduled (Viloria-Rubillar) purse offer,” insisted Sulaiman.

The way the purse bid works, whoever puts up the biggest pot for the reigning champ earns the right to stage the championship between Viloria and Rubillar, handled by Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde Jr.

Elorde, the son of the late boxing great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, is offering $150,000 for Viloria to fight Rubillar in the country.

On top of the purse, Elorde is also giving the Viloria camp four air tickets and free meals and accommodations.