MANILA – Negrense boxer Merlito Sabillo failed to snap his losing skid after suffering a seventh round technical knockout loss to Mexican Daniel Valladares on Sunday at the Arena Monterrey in Mexico.
It was the third consecutive defeat of the Toboso, Negros Occidental native following his losses to ABF and OPBF lightweight champion Edward Heno and WBC silver light flyweight titlist Jing Xiang last year.
Despite the match being a short notice, Sabillo had a great performance in the first few rounds as he was able to keep in step with Valladares with his left and right combinations and left straights.
The 30-year-old Sabillo, however, was forced to quit the match midway in the seventh round after suffering a huge cut above his left eye from a solid punch unloaded by Valladares.
“Overall maganda naman ang ipinakita ni Junjun,” said Sabillo’s head coach Jerald Tepora. “Pero pinahinto ko ‘yung laban nung seventh round kasi nagisian siya sa kaliwang mata.”
With the defeat, the former WBO minimumweight champion Sabillo saw his record dropped to 27-7-1 win-loss-draw with 13 stoppage wins, while Valladares improved his slate to 20-1-0, with 12 knockout wins.
In the undercard, Filipino boxer Jason Canoy suffered a lopsided unanimous decision defeat at the hands of undefeated Mexican fighter Irving Turrubiartes.
It was the third consecutive loss of the 28-year-old Canoy to see his boxing slate dropped to 27-10-2, with 19 knockout wins, while Turrubiartes extended his untarnished slate to 20-0-0, with 13 stoppage wins./PN
