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Sabillo eyes 18th win at L? Fisher Hotel


PhilBoxing.com




Friday night, May 4 will be the moment for Bacole?os and Negrenses when ALA Promotions? boxing spectacular ?Pride of Negros? unfolds at 6pm at the La Proa Ballroom of L? Fisher Hotel.

Undefeated and defending Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation mini-flyweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo (17 wins, 7 KOs) is eyeing to notch the 18th victory of his boxing career and probably his 8th knockout when he faces his 18-year-old challenger Jonathan Refugio.

The Toboso-native and 28-year-old Sabillo said that he is ready and well-prepared. But the young fighter stressed that though he is in condition for the upcoming fight however, said that he will not be over-confident as his opponent is likewise ready for the battle. ?I?m very much conditioned for the fight but I won?t be over-confident since my opponent will also strive hard to win. I heard lots of comments that this guy (Refugio) is a good fighter so I won?t give that high confidence,? the champion Sabillo said.

Just a few days before the scheduled 12-rounds brawl, Sabillo has already completed a little of a hundred sparring sessions as part of his preparation for this fight.

Meanwhile, Sabillo alongside other members of the Negros team and their respective opponents successfully met their weights after the official weigh-in yesterday at the L? Fisher Hotel lobby, supervised by the Games of Amusement Board (GAB)-Bacolod officer-in-charge Jovencio ?Boy? Paroco.

Sabillo entered the 105 lbs limit after registering 104 ? lbs while Refugio weighed 103 ? lbs.

On the other hand, for the main undercard, Escalante City-born Melvin ?Vinz? Gumban needed to take off his cycling shorts to hit the 115 lbs limit after earlier weighed a quarter pound heavier while defending Philippines Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Nelson ?The Giant Killer? Llanos registered 113 lbs.

Other undercards, Bacole?o Juren Labordo and his opponent another Davaeno Anastacio Gallardo registered 112 ? lbs and 109 lbs., respectively. They will be fighting on a 4-rounder of the 112 pounds division.

Meanwhile, Top Prime Stable?s Louie Arlos registered 108 lbs. while his opponent Tagbilaran City?s Lito Dante weighed 107 ? lbs. they are set to brawl in a 6-round fight at 108 pounds.

Rey Morales of Himamaylan City weighed 113 lbs. while his opponent Bukidnon?s Kheriel Gonlibo booked 111 ? lbs. Both will be facing each other in a 4-rounder at 112 pounds.

Tickets for this fight are available at the L? Fisher Hotel, Bascon Hotel, 101 Boxing Gym, Negros Amateur Boxing Association (NABA) gym, Chicken Deli Lacson, SM City and East branches, and L? Kaisei Lacson and SM City.

Prices are at P 1,000 for VIP 1st row, P 850 for VIP 2nd row (reserved seat), P 700 for VIP 3rd row, P 500 for VIP 4th row and P 350 for the Ballroom.

The event is sanctioned by the GAB headed by Chairman Juan Ramon ?Monju? Guanzon.

Top photo: Undefeated and defending OPBF mini-flyweight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo (right) with challenger Jonathan Refugio. (Mymy Alagaban Photo)


Defending Philippines Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Nelson ?The Giant Killer? Llanos with Escalante City-born Melvin ?Vinz? Gumban. (Mymy Alagaban Photo)



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jerome S. Galunan Jr..


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