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RUBILLAR RETAINS OPBF TITLE WITH SMASHING KO WIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Jun 2007
Juanito Rubillar retained his Orient Pacific Boxing Federation light flyweight title with a smashing fifth round knockout victory over challenger Ken Nakajima of Japan at the Nishinari Ward Gym in Osaka, Sunday.
The 30 year old Filipino southpaw who twice fought Mexican warrior Jorge Arce in Mexico and lost, the second time in a controversial points decision was in the best shape of his life after training for some three months in a determined effort to put on an impressive showing and hopefully earn a world title shot against reigning WBC champion Edgar Sosa who won the title with a majority decision over Brian Viloria last April 14.
Viloria had earlier lost the title to Omar Nino in a twelve round unanimous decision but the rematch which Nino won was declared a no-contest after the Mexican tested positive for a banned substance. Despite the setbacks Viloria is still ranked No. 3 by the WBC while Rubillar who has accused the Hawaii-raised Filipino of avoiding him was ranked No. 4 prior to the Nakajima title defense.
According to the wife of Rubillar’s manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr, Arlene Elorde, Rubillar hurt Nakajima with vicious body shots and dropped him twice before putting him away for good at 2:42 of the fifth round. She said the OPBF champion was scheduled to arrive at 1:35 this afternoon aboard a Thai airlines flight.
With the win Rubillar improves his record to 42-10-7 with 19 knockouts while Nakajima dropped to 16-5 with 10 knockouts. The Filipino southpaw won the OPBF title with a seventh round TKO over tough young Indonesian Irfan Ogah on October 13, 2006 in Trece Martires City, Cavite.
Rubillar in a pre-departure interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today was extremely confident of victory saying he had sparred 108 rounds with WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Drian Francisco and WBO Inter-continental minimum weight champion Ryan Bito. Rubillar said he was encouraged by the promise of his manager Bebot Elorde to work hard to get him a world title shot which Elorde believes he richly deserves.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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