Philippines, 10 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


WBO DECLARES MERLITO SABILLO AS THE NEW MINI-FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION


PhilBoxing.com




DAVAO CITY ? The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has declared Interim Mini-Flyweight (Minimumweight, 105 lbs) Champion Merlito Sabillo of the Philippines as the regular champion of the division according to its latest rankings released on the WBO website. Former WBO Mini-Flyweight Champion Moises Fuentes of Mexico is now the No. 1 contender of the Junior Flyweight (108 lbs) division the champion of which is Donnie Nietes of the Philippines.

Sabillo (21-0-0, 11KO) who was then ranked No. 2 in the division, fought No. 1 ranked Luis de la Rosa (21-1-1) of Columbia at De La Rosa's hometown last March 9 for the Interim Title and won via 8th round TKO. The Interim Title was put on the line because Moises Fuentes was about to leave the division and challenged Nietes's title last March 2 in Cebu. After the Nietes-Fuentes title fight ended in a draw, there were some uncertainty whether or not Fuentes will vacate his Mini-Flyweight title. The WBO declaration to elevate Sabillo as the regular champion and put Fuentes as Nietes's No. 1 contender has put everything in order.

?That is actually the plan,? WBO Vice-President Leon Panoncillo Jr, who is in Davao for the Bautista-Ramirez regional title fight Saturday, told Philboxing.com. ?Actually Fuentes can no longer make weight as a mini-flyweight so he is forced to go to a higher division. I therefore congratulate the ALA Gym and the Philippines for producing another world champion,? added Panoncillo.

?We are very pleased with this development and we are actually expecting this,? ALA Promotions President Michael Aldeguer said. ?Sabillo is a very exciting fighter and he deserves this. By winning the Interim Title at his opponent's backyard, he deserves this title. I'm very happy with this development because it came during a time when Philippine boxing is down with the recent loses of Brian Viloria and Nonito Donaire. We're happy to add another world champion for the Philippines.?

Asked what are his plans for Sabillo, Aldeguer said ?We want to let him fight abroad one more time and then bring him here to defend his title here. But let's see because everything has not yet been set.?

Recent loses by Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Nonito Donaire had reduced the Philippines' world champions to two but Sabillo's feat has made it back to three in addition to Donnie Nietes and Johnriel Casimero.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Battle Ready: Midgley and Apisit Clash for WBF Australasian Heavyweight Strap
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 Aug 2025
  • Filipino Jan Clifford Labog wins big in Hongkong chess tourney; earns Candidate Master title
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 10 Aug 2025
  • Featherweight Crusher Mirco Cuello Destroys Sergio Rios to Win WBA Interim Championship in Benghazi
    , Sat, 09 Aug 2025
  • TONIGHT! Maricela "La Diva" Cornejo to Battle Natasha "The Nightmare" Spence for WBA International Title
    , Sat, 09 Aug 2025
  • INKSIDE Track: A Quarantine Story Tattooed in Mactan
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 09 Aug 2025
  • A Night of Boxing in Sta Ynez, California: Cain Sandoval Versus Jino Rodrigo
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • USA Boxing Announces 2025 World Boxing Championships Roster
    , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Adrien Broner Hints at Comeback, Pledges 3-5 More Years to Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Heavyweight Jamar Talley falls short in opening bout of 2023 Santiago Pan American Games
    , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Milo Marathon in Tagum on September 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Former Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion, Riddick Bowe Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 08 Aug 2025
  • Gaballo and Laurente to Co-Headline Sanman Boxing Event in Gensan
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Paulo Salud and His POWer Punches
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Jamaine Ortiz Eager to Face Steve Claggett in Co-Main Event of MVP Fight Night on DAZN
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Happy 53rd Birthday to the One and Only Gerry Peñalosa!!!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • FLORIDA POOL OPEN DAY TWO: GORST FALLS TO ATENCIO AS CHUA, YAPP, AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • 128 chess players officially registered for Touchmove
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Japanese Rule of the Lower Weights Under Challenge by Pinoy, Latino Boxers
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • September 6: Former World Champion Oscar Valdez Faces Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in Mexican Homecoming at Domo Binacional in Nogales
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • Former World Champion & U. S. Olympian Sadam Ali to headline “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
    , Thu, 07 Aug 2025
  • "Pitbull" Cruz receives his WBC Belt in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • Japanese Rule of Lower Weights Under Challenge; Head-Scratching Latest WBC World Rankings
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • UNDERCARD ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR ALLEN v MAKHMUDOV AS HEARN EXPECTS TICKETS TO FLY FOR OCTOBER 11 IN SHEFFIELD
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • Yoenis Tellez to Defend WBA Interim Title Against Abass Baraou in High-Stakes Showdown on DAZN
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • CB Promotions To Debut This Fall
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.