MANILA – Merlito Sabillo failed to clinch the WBC silver light flyweight belt after a unanimous-decision defeat to Chinese Jing Xiang at the Qinzhou Gymnasium in China.
It was the second consecutive title defeat for the Toboso, Negros Occidental native after losing the ABF and OPBF light flyweight belt to Edward Heno in February.
Sabillo seemed rejuvenated early in the round on Sunday as he unloaded consecutive hits, including a left cross that nearly floored Xiang. But the Chinese was able to keep in step with the former.
Heading into the final rounds Sabillo slowed down while Xiang managed to maintain his aggressiveness and pestered his opponent with multiple combinations.
At the end of the match all three judges scored in favor of Xiang – Japan’s Hisatoshi Miyazaki gave 119-109, Thailand’s Chaveany Krutkate showed 117-111 and South Korea’s Shin Kyoung-ka gave it 118-110.
With the defeat, the 34-year-old Sabillo saw his boxing slate drop to 27-6-1 (win-loss-draw), including 13 KOs, while Xiang improved his record to 15-4-2, with three stoppage wins.
The loss also could be a dampener for the Negrense fighter – the Games and Amusements Board is not allowing him to fight overseas after incurring a second straight defeat.
In the undercard Filipino Richard Garcia was also unsuccessful in his bid as he suffered a one-sided unanimous decision defeat at the hands of another Chinese fighter, Shichao Gao./PN
