[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Toboso pug fails in unification bout’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
February 20, 2018
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
MERLITO Sabillo failed to retain his Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight belt and capture the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) belt from Edward Heno after a majority-decision loss at the Gaisano City mall in Bacolod City.
Saturday’s result made for a first defeat for Sabillo – a native of Toboso, Negros Occidental and former WBO world minimumweight champ – in his last three matches.
Heno put pressure on Sabillo at the start of the match with combination punches. Sabillo tried to recover in the middle rounds but was no match to the Pasay City native, who claimed the win 118-110, 112-116, 119-109.
After the match, Heno said he felt vindicated after what he called a “travesty” made by Sabillo’s camp during the weigh-in on Friday to make the Negrense still contend for the title despite failing to make weight.
“Grabe ang ginawa nila sa akin e. Beterano na siya, batang-bata pa lang ako sa larangan na ito,” Heno said in an online interview. “It’s not easy to cut weight. Tapos iyong kalaban mo mukhang hindi naman nagbabawas.”
With the defeat, the 34-year-old Sabillo’s slate dropped to 27-5-1 including 13 stoppage victories, while the 25-year-old Heno kept his undefeated record 12-0-5 with five knockout wins.
In the supporting bouts, John Michael Zulueta of Bacolod City defeated Ebonito Loperez of Davao City, while Paolo Sy of Bacolod City and Elmer Libo-on of Murcia, Negros Occidental had a draw./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
