SABILLO, KANO MAKE WEIGHT FOR OPBF TITLE-FIGHT
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 07 May 2016
FORMER world champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo of the Philippines and reigning WBA Asia champion Riku Kano of Japan both made their weights today for their title-fight for the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation minimumweight crown tomorrow at the Bunka Center in Sanda, Hyogo, Japan.
The 32-year old Sabillo, a former WBO world minimumweight champion tipped the scales at 104 lbs. while 18-year old Kano submitted 104.5 lbs.
?Maganda condition ni Sabillo. Pero balikatan it, pag walang knockout delikado,? said Sabillo?s manager Brico Santig of MP-Highland Promotions.
The 32-year old Sabillo, will be fighting the 18-year old Kano for the interim Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimumweight title.
Sabillo, a native of Toboso, Negros Occidental has a record of 25W-2L-1D-12KOs. However, Sabillo will be facing a younger and tough Japanese boxer, who is a southpaw.
Kano has won all his last seven fights, four of them by knockout. Kano previously won by a first round knockout against Chaichana Sor Por Por of Laos last February 26 in Wat Kokkuod, Surin, Thailand.
Sabillo first won the Philippine minimumweight title with a TKO win over Roger Echavez on April 30, 2011 at his hometown in Bacolod. He then captured the OPBF minimumweight crown via a UD over Rodel Tejares on October 8, 2011 also in Bacolod.
He defended it successfully against Jonathan Refugio by a TKO last May 4, 2012 also in Bacolod. Sabillo, formerly under the ALA Promotions in Cebu, then captured the interim WBO world minimumweight crown by an 8th round TKO over Luis de la Rosa last March 9, 2013 in Coliseo Mario de Le?n in Cerete, Colombia.
He first successfully defended it by a KO over Jorle Estrada on July 13, 2013 at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino in Cebu. He first defended it by a split draw with Carlos Buitrago at the Araneta Coliseum on November 30, 2013. ? LITO DELOS REYES
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