?TIGER? SABILLO READY TO RIP INTO HIS OPPONENT IN FIRST TITLE DEFENSE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Jul 2013
Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo is ready to rip into his opponent, Jorlie Estrada of Colombia, in the Filipino?s first title defense at the plush Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino in the Philippines ?Entertainment City? along Manila Bay on July 13 and has indicated he wants to put on a show in the first world title fight at Solaire.
The fight card on the highly successful ?Pinoy Pride? series of ABS-CBN and ALA Promotions will be telecast on Channel 2 on July 14 at 10:15 a.m.
The undefeated Sabillo?s trainer and former world title challenger Edito ?Ala? Villamor told the Manila Standard that the WBO minimum weight champion who has a record of 21-0 with 11 knockouts is ?in great shape and only three pounds over the weight limit which is no problem? with some two weeks to go before fight night.
Villamor said Sabillo was scheduled to spar for the last time this week on Tuesday (today) Thursday and Saturday against sparring partners who include Philippine champion Jerson Mancio and OPBF champion Arthur Villanueva as well as amateur standout Jesrey Waminal ?to improve his speed and skills.?
The undefeated Villanueva (21-0, 11 KO?s) will also see action on ?Pinoy Pride XXI? against hard-hitting Mexican Arturo Badillo (21-4, 19 KO?s) in a clash for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight title.
Villamor said the 29 year old Sabillo is ?a really hard puncher and dropped Luis De La Rosa twice? en route to an 8th round TKO in their fight for the Interim title last March 9 in Colombia after which Sabillo was elevated to full champion when Moises Fuentes moved up in weight and will get a crack at WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes in a mandatory title shot after one voluntary defense by Nietes possibly in Dubai in September.
Villamor disclosed that they had been working on ?improving Sabillo?s defense and doubled-up training in this aspect of the champion?s skills.?
He also told us that Pio Solon is handling Sabill;o?s strength and conditioning whie Abet Biagan who trains the Philippine triathlon team was making sure about ?proper nutrition and the food intake? of Sabillo.
Photo: WBO minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo (L) spars with Philippine champion Jerson Mancio.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 11 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025