Unbeaten Sabillo battles Refugio tonight in Bacolod

ALA Boxing Gym’s rising star, the undefeated Philippine and OPBF minimum weight champion Merlito “The Tiger” Sabillo will try to impress his home fans in Bacolod as he slugs it out against Malaybalay, Bukidnon’s Jonathan Refugio in the main event of the “Pride Of Negros” boxing card to be held tonight at the La Proa Ballroom in L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.

During yesterday’s official weigh-in also held at the L’Fisher Hotel, Sabillo tipped the scales at 104lbs while Refugio was a pound lighter at 103lbs. Sabillo and Refugio will clash for 12 rounds.

Sabillo came off from an impressive victory over his first foreign opponent, Sofyan Effendi in the undercard of Pinoy Pride XI held here in Cebu last January at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino while the 18-year-old Refugio dropped to 10-2-1 win-loss record after losing two major bouts against Wanheng Menayothin of Thailand for the WBC international minimum weight title in Bangkok,Thailand via a technical knock-out in the ninth round. He also lost via unanimous decision to Crison Omayao for the Philippine minimumweight title last December.

On the other hand, undefeated Melvin Gumban (8-0-3KOs) also from the ALA Boxing Gym also made weight as he vies for the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) superflyweight title against Nelson Llanos (22-27-9) of Davao City.

Gumban came in at 114lbs while Llano is a pound lighter. They will fight for 10 rounds. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G.ROSAL