Sports
ABF champ to defend title in Bacolod
DAVAO CITY – Reigning Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo will defend his crown against Crison “Cowboy’ Omayao of Valencia City, Bukidnon infront of his townmates in Bacolod City on October 20 at the Barangay Granada covered court.
The championship fight, dubbed as the “Fist of Glory”, is a presentation of the Naris-Monju-Mayor Bing Leonardia Boxing Development Program.
“This is free to the public by Mayor Bing Leonardia,” said former Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chair Juan Ramon Guanzon. It is supported by ABF President Naris Singwancha of Thailand.
The 33-year-old Sabillo, a former WBO World minimumweight champion captured the ABF light flyweight title by scoring a 3rd round knockout win against Jack Amisa of Indonesia last May 27 at the 888 Chinatown Square Mall in Bacolod.
Sabillo (26W-4L-1L, 13 KOs) is also a former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) and Philippine minimumweight champion.
Omayao (22W-14L-4D, 7 KOs) , on the other hand, is also a former Philippine minimumweight and Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) light flyweight title-holder from Valencia City, Bukidnon.
He beat Jonathan Refugio by a UD to capture the PBF minimumweight title in 2012. He also fought but lost in two separate championship fights.
Omayao dropped a unanimous decision to Chao Zhong Xiong in their battle for both the WBC International and vacant OPBF minimumweight titles in 2015. He also bowed to Jerry Tomogdan by a majority decision for the Philippine minimumweight crown in 2016.
The 24-year-old Omayao scored his last victory by a UD against Japanese Mako Matsuyama last May 13 in Hong Kong.
