| |
|
PINOY PRIDE 23: SABILLO VS BUITRAGO ENDS IN SPLIT DRAW
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Dec 2013
QUEZON CITY ? It was the spine-tingling match that everyone expected. Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo managed to hang on to his WBO minimumweight world title against a young and skillful challenger from Nicaragua, Carlos ?Chocorroncito? Buitrago.
Both boxers were cautious at the start, opening the fight with jabs and feints. Buitrago effectively countered Sabillo when the champion tried to get in. The Nicaraguan?s footwork enabled him to find the right distance and angles against the southpaw Sabillo.
The streetfighter in Sabillo woke up in the 4th and he tried to lure the 21 year old Buitrago into a brawl. But Buitrago?s jab and accurate right kept on landing. Sensing he was falling behind, Sabillo kept his pressure the fight became a battle between accuracy versus volume and aggressiveness.
The 29 year old Sabillo?s fierceness and pressure enabled him to gain ground and catch up past the halfway mark. The fight was hanging in the balance with Sabillo almost going down but he continued to force the issue while Buitrago, who is interim titlist, stuck to his plan to wait and counter.
The scorecards of the judges ? Levi Martinez (USA) ? 115-113 for Buitrago, Joerge Milke (Germany) ? 115-113 for Sabillo and Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan) -114-114.
The referee was Jack Reiss of the U.S. Both boxers remain unbeaten, Sabillo is now 23-0-1, 12 Ko?s, Buitrago is 27-0-1, 16 Ko?s.
The title remains in Sabillo?s hands. This bout was the co-main event for PINOY PRIDE 23: FILIPINOS KONTRA LATINOS which was held Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This writer and philboxing editor Dong Secuya both scored it a draw. In an unofficial poll among sportswriters at ringside, seven had Buitrago winning by a hairline, two agreed with the draw but all were unanimous in saying this was a very close fight.
Rematch anyone?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Press 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 2026TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
, Wed, 28 Jan 2026Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026Gensan Outdoor, Gensan Educator support MFPI 5th Mindanao Summit in Mt. Apo
By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026Vitor vs Subkhankulov, Tapales vs Kalsynov in Double IBF Asia Title Fights in Moscow on Feb. 13
By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026“It’s about owning my own journey” Jeanine Brown retuns for Title Clash March 13 – Thunderdome 53
, Tue, 27 Jan 2026Long Boxing Journey settles in New Bedford, MA for Junior Featherweight prospect Joshua Alvarado
, Tue, 27 Jan 2026Steph Curry is 19th leading scorer of the NBA
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026Ocum is WBC Asian lightweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 27 Jan 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
