Rubillar in title rematch but pay will be less

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino five-time world title challenger Juanito Rubillar is hoping his luck will turn when he takes on newly crowned IBO lightflyweight champion Hekkie (The Hexecutioner) Budler in a rematch at the Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng, South Africa, on June 19 but he’ll be paid $2,500 less than in their first controversial meeting.

Rubillar’s manager Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. said yesterday the smaller purse is inconsequential as is the fact that promoter Shona McTaggart of Golden Gloves is providing for one less plane ticket.

“I can’t complain,” said Elorde. “Juanito is the challenger, not the champion, and I’m just happy to be given a second chance. I’m grateful to Shona and Rodney Berman (Golden Gloves chairman) for agreeing to the rematch.”

Last month, Rubillar lost to Budler via a majority 12-round decision for the vacant IBO 108-pound title at Emperor’s Palace where the 20-year-old South African has fought 12 of his 14 bouts. The verdict was widely criticized by sportswriters, prompting IBO president Ed Levine to order an immediate rematch.

A point of dispute was the presence of three South African judges two of whom unconscionably saw it for Budler despite Rubillar’s dominant showing. For the record, Lulama Mtya had it, 117-113, and Deon Dwarte, 115-113, both for Rubillar while Isaac Tshabalala scored it, 114-all.


Chicago referee Pete Podgorski appeared to throw neutrality out of the window. In the late going, Rubillar dropped Budler with a legitimate blow but Podgorski ruled it a slip after counting to two. Elorde said the fight tape provided by Golden Gloves was only up to the seventh round and conveniently missed the knockdown.

Podgorski, 56, was the same referee who abruptly halted IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s fight against Raul Martinez in the fourth round at the Araneta Coliseum last year. Martinez was floored and skidded to the canvas. Podgorksi didn’t bother to count or check Martinez’ condition and suddenly, waved it off, raising eyebrows from a few veteran referees at ringside.

“Budler went down from a punch and Podgorski started to count,” said Elorde. “When he reached the count of two, he looked at us and ordered one of our seconds (Archer Villamor) to wipe the water on the canvas near our corner. Then, Podgorski forgot about the count, ruled it a slip and let the fight continue. I couldn’t believe what he did. It was the first time I saw anything like it.”

Elorde said he was advised by friends to protest the verdict but decided against it as the case would’ve meant an investment of $1,000 as filing fee.

“I e-mailed Mr. Levine and forwarded stories from the press questioning Budler’s win,” said Elorde. “A hometown decision is nothing new in boxing. You learn to live with it. But in this case, I asked Mr. Levine for a rematch and I’m grateful that Rodney and Shona agreed.”

To be fair, Elorde said he was approached by McTaggart right after the bout and offered a rematch although no terms were discussed. The contract for the return fight arrived a week ago and Elorde has signed it.

In the first bout, Rubillar was accompanied by trainers Ding Cabanela and Villamor and Elorde as Golden Gloves provided four plane tickets. In the rematch, only three tickets are in the budget and even Rubillar’s purse will be cut by $2,500.

Elorde said he’s not in a position to bargain for neutral judges. The word is two of the three judges in the rematch will be Americans and one will presumably be South African.

“Both Golden Gloves and the IBO have recommended that a rematch take place in order for the result to be free of contention,” said Berman, quoted by the South African press. “Not that we are questioning the credibility of the three judges but since they were all South Africans and the contest was fought at such a fast pace, it was understandable that there would be allegations of a hometown bias. I know that Budler himself would like nothing more than the opportunity to reinforce his status as the new world champion as this would considerably benefit his reputation.”

Budler’s trainer Colin Nathan said he welcomed the opportunity to set the record straight. “It was a credible fight but as champions, we accept the challenge,” he said. “We felt that we won it fair and square but all I can say is that history will repeat itself and we will beat Rubillar more convincingly.”

Elorde said Rubillar fought cautiously in the first four rounds, wary that an accidental headbutt would result in a no-contest or technical draw. He turned on the heat starting the fourth round and Budler took a bad beating.

“We’ll do the same in the rematch,” said Elorde. “We’ll go to the body like we did before but this time, we’ll be even more aggressive so we won’t rely on the scorecards to win.”

Elorde said Budler’s youth and inexperience will prove to be his undoing. Budler was only four years old when Rubillar made his pro debut in 1994. Rubillar’s record is 48-14-7, with 23 KOs, compared to Budler’s 14-0, with five KOs. Rubillar has lost in five bids for the world title, starting in 1999 when he bowed to another South African, Zolani Petelo, for the IBF minimumweight crown in Cambridgeshire, England.

Source: Joaquin Henson  | Philstar.com

Black Saturday

Disaster struck three Filipino fighters in world title fights in different countries last Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time) and even as WBC lightflyweight champion Rodel Mayol retained his title, he was carried out of the ring on a stretcher.

Mayol staked his crown against former titleholder Omar Nino Romero in Guadalajara and before the bout, the WBC issued a strong statement chastising the Filipino for allegedly stating in a newspaper interview that he feared the governing body wouldn’t stage a fair fight. Mayol denied he ever said it.

But the damage was done. “For (Mayol) to question the WBC’s integrity is unacceptable and to question the honesty of the four North American ring officials selected for this bout will not be tolerated,” said the WBC. “The WBC appointed Gary Ritter of Oklahoma, Nathan Palmer of Indiana and Stephen Blea of Colorado as judges and referee Vic Drakulich of Nevada , all neutral officials.

“It is regrettable that Mayol, who is a very nice and gentle person, could allow these irresponsible comments to be published on his behalf. The WBC is referring the matter to the WBC disciplinary committee to evaluate and rule if any action will proceed to clarify these claims.”

In his denial, Mayol said he never questioned the WBC’s integrity or the honesty of the officials appointed to work the fight. He thanked the WBC for the opportunity to vie for the world crown and become a champion.


After getting off to a strong start, Mayol was blasted below the belt by Romero in the third round. Mayol grimaced and motioned to Drakulich that he had been struck low. Drakulich moved in, apparently to stop the action, as Mayol turned away with both arms down. Suddenly, Romero unleashed a vicious left hook that caught Mayol flush on the jaw. Drakulich was too late in preventing Romero from throwing the sucker punch. Mayol fell on the canvas like a sack of potatoes.

* * * *

Initially, there was confusion on what would be the outcome as Mayol was in no condition to continue. Drakulich consulted WBC executive secretary Mauricio Sulaiman at ringside and it was decided to declare the bout a technical draw, allowing Mayol to keep his belt. Sulaiman’s father Jose is the WBC president.

Ruling a technical draw was a compromise. If a fight is called off because a fighter is unable to continue because of a cut inflicted by an accidental headbutt in the first four rounds, then it is ruled a technical draw or a no-contest. In Mayol’s case, he was knocked out before Drakulich could step in between the fighters – similar to the situation where referee Jay Nady failed to separate Bernabe Concepcion and Steven Luevano at the sound of the seventh round bell, causing the Filipino to strike the WBO featherweight champion and knock him out in Las Vegas last year.

Concepcion was disqualified for the late hit and rightly so although Nady was widely criticized for his inability to move in between the fighters.

What happened to Mayol was unfortunate but he was lucky not to lose by knockout. The rule in boxing is for a fighter to protect himself at all times. Obviously, Mayol was defenseless after motioning to Drakulich he had been hit low and walked away from Romero. But Drakulich never got to separate the fighters so technically, there was no official stoppage and Romero had every right to continue punching. Drakulich, however, appeared to have called a halt – verbally – so if Romero heard it, he should’ve backed off. Of course, Romero will deny hearing an order to retreat – just like Concepcion denied hearing the bell ring.

Should Romero have been disqualified? To justify a disqualification, there must be malicious intent or a blatant infraction of a rule. Because it wasn’t clear if Romero should’ve won by knockout or lost by disqualification, Sulaiman handed out a solomonic compromise – a technical draw. Perhaps, it should’ve been a no-contest.

* * * *

The two other Filipinos who figured in world title bouts last Saturday suffered losses. Marvin Sonsona was knocked out by a shot to the ribs in the fourth round by Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in Puerto Rico while Juanito Rubillar Jr. lost to Hekkie Budler on a majority decision for the vacant IBO lightflyweight diadem in South Africa.

Sonsona, 19, moved up two weight classes to battle Vazquez and never fought as a 122-pounder before. He previously campaigned in the superflyweight or 115-pound class. Not even Manny Pacquiao dared to fight for the world superbantamweight title immediately after leaving the flyweight ranks. It took Pacquiao two years before challenging IBF 122-pound champion Lehlo Ledwaba after losing the flyweight title on the scales in his second defense against Medgeon 3-K Battery.

Sonsona was unfairly rushed into another world title shot and the kid wasn’t ready to go for it. There is still some doubt whether Sonsona couldn’t make the superflyweight limit in defending his WBO title against Alejandro Hernandez last November because he was just too lazy to train or his body had naturally grown bigger. His handlers must decide at what weight division is Sonsona suited for at this stage in his physical development and that can only come after consulting a conditioning expert and nutritionist.

It’s crucial for the handlers to realize it’s not a guessing game and Sonsona could be exposed to serious injury in the ring with a decision based on unscientific factors. Finding his optimal weight is critical. Sonsona is too young, too inexperienced and too undisciplined to appreciate that locating his weight division isn’t predicated on where the scales settle after a good meal.

As for Rubillar, it seems that he was robbed of a decision. Ringside reporters said he dominated the action starting the fourth round. Budler, who was only four when Rubillar turned pro in 1994, got the nod of two of the three hometown judges. Lulma Mtya saw it 117-113 and Deon Dwarte, 115-113, both for Budler while Isaac Tshabalala scored it 114-all.

It was Rubillar’s fifth unsuccessful attempt to capture a world title and the frustration must be taking a toll on the 33-year-old veteran.

Source: Joaquin Henson  | Philstar.com

Rubillar loses bid for IBO title in blatant hometown decision

Veteran Filipino southpaw Juanito Rubillar has lost in his bid to win the IBO light flyweight title when he was the victim of another blatant hometown decision which has regrettably become a norm for any visiting fighter in South Africa who fails to win by knockout.

Super Sport reported that two judges “gave the fight” to south Africa’s Hekkoe Budler in a fight card at Emperors Casino, Kempton Park, on Sunday morning Manila Time.


Super Sport noted that two judges gave the fight to Budler by margins of 117-113 and 115-113 and said “gave may be the operative word.” The third judge scored it even at 114-114.

The reporter said Rubillar and “many in the crowd, will call it a home-town decision. It will be hard to argue against them.”

While the undefeated Budler started aggressively to take the early rounds, Rubillar came back in the fourth and connected with a number of solid shots to the body as Budler backed off.

Leading with his head as much as with his gloves which is Rubillar’s style, the Filipino actually staggered Budler on a number of occasions and while referee Pete Podgorski who refereed the IBF/IBO flyweight title defense of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire against then undefeated Raul Martinez at the Araneta Coliseum on April 19 last year cautioned the Filipino a couple of times for using his head he did not penalize Rubillar.

Rubillar took control of the fight in the seventh round and hammered Budler with solid hooks to the body and although Budler stayed on his feet he didn’t regain control of the fight although the official scorecards told a different story as Budler improved his record to 14-0, with five knockouts. Rubillar's record dropped to 48-14-7, with 23 knockouts.

Source: Ronnie Nathanielsz  | PhilBoxing