MERLIN, QIU MAKE WEIGHT FOR WBC ASIAN TITLE IN HUNAN, CHINA
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 09 Aug 2013
Filipino Jilo Merlin scaled-in at 121,7 lbs (55,200 kgs), while his tough Chinese opponent Qiu Xiaojun tipped the scales at 121.9 (55,300 kgs) ahead of their clash for the vacant WBC Asian super bantamweight belt Friday (Aug 9) in the City of Hengyang in Hunan Province, China.
The clash is a golden chance for the taller, more experienced Jilo Merlin to capture an international belt as the aggressive Qiu - who has been outpointed twice by Pinoy Jonathan Baat - tends to get confused when skillfully boxed from the outside.
Since the lanky Merlin lacks punching power (only 2 KO's in 31 fights), his focus should aim at outsmarting Qiu, 23, setting him up with left jab, stinging him with straight and overhead rights from a safe distance, always circling to the left of Qiu to avoid the power right from the Chinese and avoid being trapped in the corners or against the ropes.
Merlin's mission should be scoring the more telling blows throughout the 12 rounds to achieve the win, thought it might be not at easy feat as the dangerous Chinese comes forward relentlessly.
The 25 year-old Merlin (13-16-2, 2 KOs) of Agusan del Sur is managed by Highland Boxing of Filipino matchmaker Brico Santig, winner of last year's WBC Asian Promoter of the year Award; while Qiu Xiaojun (7-2, 3 KOs) from Suzhou, China, is handled by the very active Chinese promoters Liu Gang and Wu Shiniu.
The action is being supervised WBC Asian Boxing Council Secretary General Patrick Cusick of Australia.
The Qiu-Merlin battle for the vacant WBC Asian Super bantamweight is a production of the Chinese boxing outfit Zovi Boxing Promotions.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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