HENO TO DEFEND OPBF TITLE VS. SABILLO FEB. 17

By LITO DELOS REYES

ORIENTAL and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight champion Edward “El Heneral” Heno will defend his title against former world champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo on February 17 at 4 p.m. at the Gaisano City Mall in Bacolod City.
It will be Heno’s first title defense of the vacant OPBF crown he won via a 7th round technical knockout against Japanese Seita Ogido last Sept. 10 at the University of the Ryukyus in Nakagami, Japan.
Heno and Ogido first fought for the crown on May 21 at the same venue but settled to a majority draw.
The 25-year old Heno is still unbeaten with 11 wins and five knockouts and five draws.
Sabillo, on the other hand, will also be staking his Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight title against Heno in this 12-round championship fight infront of his fellow Bacolenos.
“Bale dalawa ang nakatayang korona sa laban na ito,” (Two titles are at stake in this fight) said promoter Brico Santig of the Highland International Boxing Promotions.
Sabillo, a former WBO World minimumweight champion stopped Jack Amisa of Indonesia by a 3rd round knockout on May 27 to capture the vacant ABF light flyweight title at the Chinatown Square Mall in Bacolod.
Sabillo (27W, 4L, 1D, 13 KOs) previously scored a convincing unanimous decision against Crison Omayao last October 20 at the Barangay Granada covered court in Bacolod.
The boxing card, which is free to the public is supported by the Singwancha Foundation.