WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman has threatened to ?definitely disqualify? OPBF light flyweight champion and WBC No. 2 contender Juanito Rubillar if he ?does not accept this coming week? the mandated title eliminator against former champion Omar Nino.
Sulaiman was visibly upset over reports that Rubillar was scheduled to fight Ulises Solis for the IBF title in Dubai on April 4 apparently scuttling the WBC mandated title eliminator.
Dante Ortiz with whom Rubillar signed a managerial contract, informed us some weeks ago that he had arranged the title fight for Rubillar who would get a purse of $25,000. The fight was also confirmed by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala of the Third Force promotions group who is in Dubai finalizing arrangements for the fight card headlined by the IBF/IBF flyweight title fight between Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire and Australia?s Hussein Hussein.
However, when Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today contacted Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde whose wife Arlene manages Rubillar, he said the publicized title fight with Sosa was ?only rumors. No contract.?
Sulaiman said if the fight with Sosa pushes through it would be ?very unfair and not nice? and would mean that Elorde was ?working against the people who have helped him all his life. We will forget about Rubillar then.?
There is a pending managerial dispute involving Rubillar who originally signed up with Arlene Elorde, wife of Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde, then signed up with Ortiz and former world junior welterweight champion Morris East and even trained under East at the Main Event Gym in Quezon City before suddenly returning to the Elorde camp.
WBC president Jose Sulaiman was clearly concerned over the developments since Rubillar was rated No. 2 by the WBC and negotiations had begun for a possible title eliminator in Manila against Omar Nino.
Games and Amusements Board boxing division chief Dr. Nasser Cruz said it was a confusing situation.
Elorde himself had admitted that Rubillar had asked for and received money from Ortiz and East while Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that he was already asking for an advance of his purse for the battle with Solis.
IBF Championship Committee Chairman Lindsey Tucker said he had not received any official request to sanction the Solis-Rubillar title fight but added ?if I did I would approve it.?
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Ronnie Nathanielsz.