By Rey Danseco
THE World Boxing Council (WBC) approved the petition of American promoter Bob Arum to move the scheduled purse bids for the mandated fight between Brian Viloria and Juanito Rubillar from April 7 (April 8 in Manila) in Mexico City to April 21.
In the purse bid, the promoter with highest prize to put on the table will earn the right to stage the Viloria-Rubillar fight for the WBC light flyweight title.
Arum, the big boss of Las Vegas-based boxing promotion outfit Top Rank, reasoned in his appeal to the Mexico-based boxing officials with respect Viloria’s right-hand injury and he has major promotion on April 8 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
The WBC’s top honcho told Rubillar’s hander Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr in a letter dated April 3 that Arum, a lawyer in profession, already know his eagerness to bring the fight in the Philippines.
Elorde offered Viloria $150,000 tax-free purse with four air tickets and free meals and accommodations to defend the title against the No. 1 contender Rubillar in a mandatory fight.
“Top Rank has received your offer and will communicate with you during this time and if no agreement is reached by April 21, 2006 the purse offer will be conducted in Mexico City at the WBC Offices,” Sulaiman told Elorde.
In the purse bid, the Team Viloria throught Arum has 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 to have reserved a slot for Viloria on the undercard of his June 10 promotion at Madison Square Garden in New York where the Miguel Cotto and Paul Malignaggi clash for the World Boxing Organization light welterweight title.
Sulaiman’s letter with the number 39,055 was furnished to the most influential boxing personalities and leaders such as the WBC Board of Governors, the North American Boxing Federation, the Games and Amusement Board in the Philippines, the Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation, Top Rank, Inc. and Gary Gittelsohn.
