FORMER world champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo shook off an erratic start to score a unanimous decision victory against challenger Crison “Cowboy’ Omayao to retain his Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight crown on Friday night at the Barangay Granada covered court in Bacolod City.
Sabillo started slow in the first two rounds but finally saw stepped on his gas in the 3rd round. He landed more telling blows until the 8th round before he slowed down in the next two rounds.
But the veteran Bacoleno bounced back in the last two rounds to score his 27th win against four losses and one draw with 13 knockouts. The scores of the three judges were 117-108 (Ver Abainza), 118-108 (Arnaldo Quimchoy) and 114-112 (Rex Ferrer).
The championship fight dubbed as the “Fist of Glory” was presented by the Naris-Monju-Mayor Bing Leonardia Boxing Development Program.
ABF President Naris Singwancha from Thailand awarded the belt to Sabillo.
The 33-year old Sabillo, a former WBO World minimumweight champion captured the ABF light flyweight title by scoring a 3rdround knockout win against Jack Amisa of Indonesia last May 27 at the 888 Chinatown Square Mall in Bacolod.
Omayao, a former Philippine minimumweight and Philippine Boxing Federation light flyweight champion suffered his 15th loss against 22 wins and four draws. (LITO DELOS REYES)
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