Rubillar loses bid for IBO title in blatant hometown decision

Source: Manila Bulletin
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.