Despite losing his last three fights 34 year old veteran Juanito Rubillar has been given a shot at the WBC Silver super flyweight title held by Mexico?s Oscar Ibarra in Puebla, Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time.
The southpaw Rubillar who has a record of 48-16-7 with 23 knockouts has seen better days and will be coming off a ten round unanimous decision loss to Nelson Llanos last December 11.
Prior to that he dropped a majority decision to Hekkie Budler of South Africa in an International Boxing Organization light flyweight title fight on February 27, 2010 and lost by a split decision in a rematch on June 19, 2010.
Rubillar who is handled by Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde Jr fought for the WBA light flyweight title on July 25, 2009 and lost by a 6th round TKO to champion Giovanni Segura.
The 25 year old Ibarra who enjoys a three inch height advantage over Rubillar who stands 5;2? has a record of 26-4 with 17 knockouts. He won the vacant WBC Silver title with a 6th round TKO over Carlos Melo of Panama on July 24, 2010.
Melo is the same fighter who lost a lopsided decision to undefeated Milan Melindo of the Philippines on July 26, 2008.
Ibarra defended his title successfully against another Filipino Sonny Boy Jaro on October 30, 2010 winning by a 2nd round TKO.
Ibarra also retained his title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Japan?s Junichiro Sugita on January 15, 2011 and followed up with a 4th round TKO over Humberto Alassia last March 12.
While Rubillar has lost his last three fights, Ibarra has won his last twelve raising questions about how the ageing Rubillar was given the title shot especially since he has moved up two divisions to super flyweight for the Ibarra fight.
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