HENO, SABILLO MAKE WEIGHTS IN BACOLOD

By LITO DELOS REYES

PRESCON. (L to R) OPBF light flyweight champion Edward Heno, OPBF secretary-general Ramon Guanzon, promoter Brico Santig of Highland Boxing International Promotion and ABF light flyweight champion Merlito Sabillo.

BACOLOD CITY (Feb. 16) – Reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion Edward “El Heneral” Heno of Manila and Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight king Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo of Bacolod both made their weights today for their unification title bout tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Gaisano City Mall here.
Sabillo tipped the scales at 106 lbs. while Heno only submitted 103 lbs. at the venue under the supervision of OPBF Secretary-General Ramon “Monju” Guanzon.
“This will be a good fight since both are champions,” said promoter Brico Santig of the Highland International Boxing Promotions.
Heno, who arrived last Friday night from Manila said that he did not studied any videos of the past fights of Sabillo.
“I only just trained very hard for this fight,” said Heno, who is still unbeaten with 11 wins, five knockouts and five draws.
Sabillo, on the other hand, is confident that he earn another shot for the world title by beating Heno in their 12-round championship fight billed as “Civil War:: Champion vs. Champion”.
“Age doesn’t matter to me. I can still win a world title,” said the 34-year old Sabillo, a native of Toboso, Negros Occidental.
Sabillo (27W-4L-1D, 13 KOs) has trained for this fight for more than a month here in Bacolod under his first coach Sonny Villagonzalo, 64.
He previously retained his ABF crown via a unanimous decision against Crison Omayao last October 20 at the Barangay Granada covered court in Bacolod.
The 25-year old Heno (11W-0L-5D, 5 KOs) will be making his first title defense of the vacant crown he won via a 7th round technical knockout against Japanese Seita Ogido (11W-2L-3D) last September 10 at the University of the Ryukyus, Nakagami.
The main supporting also promises to be an exciting match between former IBO World light flyweight champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto of Davao City against former WBF International light flyweight title-holder Arnold “Destroyer” Garde of Pres. Roxas, North Cotabato.
Both fighters were scaled at 103 lbs. by Games and Amusements Board (GAB) officer-in-charge Donna Mae Martin.
“This is also a good match-up between world-caliber boxers,” said Guanzon
Loreto’s Japanese girlfriend and their 4-year old son arrived from Japan last Friday to watch the 8-round non-title fight.
“Mas inspired akong lumaban dahil nandito sila,” said Loreto (23W-14L-0D, 15 KOs), who is coming from a loss by a unanimous decision to defending WBA World minimumweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong last July 15 in Thailand.

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