Edward Heno hits LA ahead of his WBO title fight versus Elwin Sotto
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Oct 2019
Heno (C) with Dr Ed de la Vega (L).
We have to hand it to Sean Gibbons, the new president of the Manny Pacquiao Promotions. Gibbons, to say the least knows how to handle the MP fighters.
Take for instance, Edward Heno (14-0-5,5KO) the light flyweight prot?g?e of Martin Elorde of Paranaque City.
Heno is the current Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion. He has successive wins lately including an impressive win over former world champion, Merlito Sabillo the ex-ALA boxer formerly based in Cebu. Sabillo is not a fly-by-night champion. He was a skillful fighter albeit not like the ALA prized boxer, former world champion, Donnie Nietes. But, Sabillo is a warrior. I know as I worked his corner when he fought in Monterey, Mexico.
Sean Gibbons covers all the bases when he sends MP fighters to fight, locally or abroad. Before he flew to Manila last week, he asked for a special favor for Edward Heno.
Heno apparently is in need of a cutman when he fights Elwin Soto (15-1-0,11KO) for the WBO Light flyweight belt on October 24th at the Fantasy Springs Casino at Indio, California under the auspices of the Golden Boy Promotions.
Gibbons with the consent of Martin Elorde requested me to work as cutman for Heno. Of course I accepted. How can I reject an opportunity to help a fellow Filipino win a world title? These opportunities don?t come up too often and I know exactly the priceless feeling of seeing your fighter win, much like when I worked the corner of Senator Manny Pacquiao at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Donnie Nietes many times.
Besides, Heno?s need for a reliable cutman, he also needs a great mouthguard to replace the ?boil and bite? mouthpiece he currently uses.
But there was one issue. Heno and his trainers need to be in Las Vegas by Monday afternoon after keeping a medical appointment at San Pedro, CA for the required medical checkup and paper work for the fight. They arrived in LA Sunday at noon thus leaving him only Sunday afternoon to get his mouthguard done. Thus Gibbons asked if I could accommodate Heno on a Sunday afternoon.
My reply to Gibbons was this- "send him over to my offices straight from the LAX and I will make him a custom mouthguard in three hours?.
True enough Coach Ting Arriosa of Team Pacquiao, picked up Heno and his coach, Roel Durano and drove them straight from LAX to my Canoga Park, CA offices, a 21.61-mile drive. They arrived a little after 1:00 PM and by 3:30 PM Heno had his custom designed, fabricated and fitted mouthguard done. The mouthguard has four colors, red, white, blue and yellow depicting the colors of the Philippine flag.
?I will wear this proudly and hopefully, like the ones you made for Donnie Nietes when he won the same belt I am going after, I will win and bring pride to myself, my family and the country,? Heno stated.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
A Tall Order: Rafael Espinoza KOs Arnold Khegai to Retain Featherweight Crown
Sun, 16 Nov 2025Conor Benn dominates Chris Eubank Jr to claim emphatic rematch victory
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 16 Nov 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats Argentinian CM Daniri , maintains second place in Spain chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 16 Nov 2025NBA ALL STAR 2026: USA VS. WORLD
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sun, 16 Nov 2025Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn 2: Will Eubank Step on the Gas Pedal Earlier?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 15 Nov 2025Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 15 Nov 2025Tickets ON SALE NOW for Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
Sat, 15 Nov 2025Russ Westbrook set record setting 10,000 assists
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 15 Nov 2025GM Joey Antonio draws Becker to maintain second place in Spain chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 15 Nov 20254th Gov. Ruel Pacquiao Motocross Competition
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 15 Nov 2025Weigh-In Results: Rafael Espinoza vs. Arnold Khegai
Sat, 15 Nov 2025Soledad fights Thai for WBC Asia Continental Welter title on Nov. 29
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 15 Nov 2025Former Champ Joseph Parker fails drug test on WBO championship fight
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 15 Nov 2025R&B PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO HARD ROCK LIVE AT ETESS ARENA FOR FIGHT NIGHT 4 ON NOVEMBER 22, 2025
Sat, 15 Nov 2025WEIGHIN RESULTS FROM ALL STAR BOXING SHOW IN MANAGUA
Sat, 15 Nov 2025