| |
|
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.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled , Sat, 31 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS) By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026“It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Fri, 30 Jan 2026ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026 , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou , Fri, 30 Jan 2026PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Fri, 30 Jan 2026NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland , Fri, 30 Jan 2026WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York , Fri, 30 Jan 2026SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico , Thu, 29 Jan 2026Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season , Thu, 29 Jan 2026Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15 By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|