Rubillar.
HOLLYWOOD, California ? His help is not only being sought by fellow Filipino boxers who aspire to become world champions like him, but well-known managers and promoters also solicit Manny Pacquiao?s influence to expedite the title shot of their wards.
Among them was Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde Jr. who visited the World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion last Wednesday afternoon at the Wild Card gym and made initial talks to Pacquiao on the case of WBC lightflyweight mandatory world championship challenger Juanito Rubillar.
Elorde, eldest son of the late WBC junior lightweight champion Gabriel ?Flash? Sr., said Pacquiao told him he would include the 31-year-old Rubillar in the undercard of Pacquiao?s next fight in November tentatively in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rubillar (46-10, 22 KO) is the mandatory challenger of Mexican champion Edgar Sosa (32-5, 17 KO) who declared recently he wanted an optional defense before facing Rubillar who earned a title shot after defeating former champion Omar Nino (25-3, 11 KO) in a title eliminator last weekend in Mexico.
?Sabi ni Manny e-include niya sia Rubillar sa undercard ng kanyang sunod na laban sa Las Vegas either in September or November na yata,? said Elorde who accompanied Rubillar when the boxer defeated Omar Nino Romero by split decision in a 12-round WBC lightflyweight title eliminator on June 14 in Palacio delos Deportes, Mexico City.
Sosa, 28, won by TKO over Japanese southpaw Takashi Kunishige in the main event.
During their brief meeting, Pacquiao told Elorde: ?I will also help (Pederito) Laurente become a world champion.? Laurente (18-13, 8 KO) is handled by Elorde?s brother, Johnny.
Meanwhile, Rubillar said if given the chance to fight Sosa, ?hindi ko na pakakawalan ?to. This time, kukunin ko na.? Rublliar said he was surprised when he learned that he was taller than Sosa.
?Magaling siya sa galaw at makamay pero sa experience may lamang tayo,? said Rubillar who shoke Pacquiao?s hand after being introduced by Elorde inside the Nat?s Thai restaurant, a stone throw away from the Wild Card gym.
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