SABILLO GETS READY FOR TITLE DEFENSE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Jun 2013
CEBU CITY ? WBO minimumweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo is in the thick of preparations for his first title defense this July 13 against Jorle Estrada of Colombia. Sabillo (21-0, 11 KO?s) had fierce exchanges with his sparring partners which included Philippine jr. flyweight champ Jerson Mancio at the ALA Gym last Tuesday.
The 29 year old Sabillo won the interim title in Colombia last March when he beat Luis dela Rosa by 8th round TKO. He was recognized by the WBO as the regular world champion last April.
The 24 year old Estrada (17-6, 6 KO?s) is ranked number 6 in the May 2013 rankings of the WBO. He won the vacant South American minimumweight title last year by split decision over Jose Antonio Jimenez. Familiar names on his ledger are Mauricio Fuentes and Pedro Guevara, who beat Estrada by 7th round TKO in 2011. Guevara lost to IBF lt. flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero last year by split decision. Fuentes is tagged as Casimero?s next challenger. Estrada beat Fuentes by six round unanimous decision in 2009.
Sabillo will fight Estrada at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino. ALA gym trainer Edito Villamor told philboxing that he has seen films of Estrada and that he can fight inside and can also box from a distance.
He said that Sabillo should be in his best shape and cannot take the challenger for granted.
ALA Boxers who have been mentioned to be fighting separate opponents on the undercard are AJ Banal, Arthur Villanueva and Albert Pagara.
Top photo: Merlito Sabillo (L) spars with Gerson Mancio.
Trainer Michael Domingo prepares Sabillo for sparring.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
Thu, 04 Dec 2025Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025