HENO KEEPS OPBF TITLE, GRABS ABF TITLE FROM SABILLO

STILL THE CHAMPION. Referee Dan Nietes [2nd from lef] raising the hand of Edward Heno [extreme right] with trainer Warren Jaro [extreme left. [Photo courtesy of SCOOP BACOLOD]

BACOLOD CITY (FEB. 18) – Power puncher Edward “El Heneral” Heno used his stinging jabs to win against former world champion and hometown favorite Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo via a split decision to keep his OPBF light flyweight title and also grabbed the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight crown on Saturday night at the Gaisano City Mall here.
International judges Ferdie Estrella of Manila and Lito delos Reyes of Davao scored 119-109 and 118-110, respectively both for Heno while Bacolod-based referee Romeo Sumalapao saw it the other way around in favor of Sabillo at 116-112.
“Binago namin ang aming strategy kasi nakita naming na matibay at malakas si Sabillo kapag dikitan ang laban kaya dumistansiya na kasi,” (We changed our strategy when we saw that Sabillo was strong when fighting at close range that’s why we fought the distance) said Heno’s trainer Warren Jaro after the fight.
Sabillo, a native of Toboso, Negros Occidental, had finally landed his punches in Round 4 after Heno exchanged punches at close range. He also connected several body shots in the 5th round.
But that was the only time Sabillo had hit Heno with his punches.
In the next seven rounds, it was already an all-Heno show.
Heno showed that he is quicker in throwing his punches against Sabillo, who could hardly land his punches.
“Nangigil kasi ako sa laban. Kulang talaga ako sa sparring,” (I really lack sparring) said Sabillo, who only trained here in Bacolod with only one sparring partner.
Sabillo tried his best to land his punches but Heno used his jabs to keep the Bacoleno at bay.
“Ginawa ko lang lahat ng pinag-training ko upang manalo,” (I only used what we did during the training in order to win) said Heno.
Contrary to what Heno had earlier said, his trainer Jaro revealed in a post fight interview that they had studied Sabillo’s past fights.
“Nakita namin sa Youtube na hindi talaga siya (Sabillo) nananalo kapag distansiya ang laban. Pero kapag dikitan malakas at matibay si Sabillo at delikado kami kapag ganun,” (I saw on the Youtube that he doesn’t win if his opponent fights from the distance. But he is strong and powerful if he fights closely) said Jaro.
ABF President Naris Sinwancha from Thailand and OPBF secretary-general Juan Ramon Guanzon awarded Heno the golden belts after the fight.
The 24-year old Heno improved his record to 12 wins with 5 knockouts, 5 draws and no loss while Sabillo, a former WBO world minimumweight champion, suffered his 5th defeat against 27 wins with 13 knockouts and one draw.
“I will still fight and aim for a comeback win,” said the 34-year old Sabillo.
The Heno-Sabillo 12-rounder was the main event of the free-to-the-public boxing card dubbed as the “Civil War: Champion vs. Champion”.
It was promoted by Brico Santig of the Highland Boxing Promotions and the Mayor Bing Leonardia Boxing Development Program and supported by the Singwancha Foundation of boxing philanthropist Naris Singwancha.