?WITH God, nothing is impossible.?
That is Merlito Sabillo?s approach in life. And with that state of mind going into his world title fight last weekend in Colombia, the soft-spoken religious boxer knocked out much-favored local fighter Luis de la Rosa to become the interim World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini-flyweight champion.
?I still felt great even with the long trip. With God, nothing is impossible,? said Sabillo, who after arriving yesterday, visited Sun.Star Cebu.
?I felt no pressure. Instead, I was so excited. When I was still in Cebu training, I already focused myself because I knew it would be a long trip. I felt no jetlag. God really guided me. When we arrived, I felt great. It really was for me.?
Before his world title bout last Sunday at the jam-packed Coliseo Mario de Leon, Sabillo, along with coaches Edito Villamor and Michael Domingo, had to endure a long trip from Cebu City to Cerete, Colombia.
?We traveled for more than 60 hours. We arrived just three days before the fight,? said Villamor.
Sabillo was fierce in his scheduled 12-round world title fight with de la Rosa and immediately inflicted a cut from a clean punch in the opening round.
?I was so nervous for him. But I relaxed after he showed that he had no problem in the fight. He really showed that he wanted to win,? said the recently-retired Domingo, who is going into his third month as a trainer.
After seven rounds of all-out action that delighted the fans, Sabillo dropped de la Rosa in the eighth. The Colombian No. 1 contender stood up but was once against sent to the canvas. De la Rosa tried to continue but the referee had seen enough and stopped the bout with two seconds remaining in the round.
?I didn?t have a hard time in the fight. I paced myself to finish the fight. In round seven, I saw that he was tired. When we sat down, I looked at him and he was very tired. That?s why I went all out in the next round,? said Sabillo, who is now rated No. 10 in The Ring Magazine mini-flyweight ratings.
After a taste of success, Sabillo is eager for more and wants to unify the mini-flyweight division.
?I?m very happy. I have finally reached my dream to become a world champion. I want to add another belt,? he said.
The current mini-flyweight champions are Chinese Xiong Zhao Zhong (WBC), Mexican Mario Rodriguez (IBF), Japanese Ryo Miyazaki (WBA) and Mexican Moises Fuentes (WBO).
Sabillo is willing to fight anybody, especially the other world champions in the 105-pound division. The matchmaking is all up to Sabillo?s promoter, ALA Promotions, but if it were up to his coach, Edito Villamor, a fan?s dream match would be against Fuentes.
?That?s one of the best fights that should be made,? said Villamor.
Sabillo started his professional career in 2008, at the age of 24, and became a world champion five years after. Before his pugilistic career, Sabillo took up a short course as a practical electrician but he was forced to stop because of poverty and thus turned to boxing as a source of income.
