Cabilla to bank on experience versus higher-ranked Silvano

BUKIDNON’S Charlie “Steelbar” Cabilla is eyeing to stage a huge upset when he fights Omega Gym’s Vergilio “Maton” Silvano for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) lightflyweight title in the main event of  the Fight Fury boxing card on July 29 at the J Center Mall in Mandaue City.

Cabilla, the no. 7 contender in his division, is a four-year pro with a record of 12-10 (win-loss) with two knockout victories. He has already been training for a couple of months under trainer and manager Roel Kaamino in Valencia, Bukidnon.

Silvano is no.1 in the Philippine light flyweight division.

“Experience will be the key,” said Kaamino. “We already fought in Thailand and Indonesia so we will not have a difficult time  when it comes to pressure. We may be the underdogs but we promise everyone that this will be a great fight,” added Kaamino.

Cabilla is a former Philippine 105lb-division champion. But he abandoned the title to move to a heavier weight class. He  became a regular boxer in Thailand, where he also got a shot at the WBO Asia Pacific minimum weight title against veteran Heri Amol in Indonesia.

After he lost to Amol in 2011, Cabilla bounced back with a win against Renante Rodina in Lanao Del Norte via unanimous decision. But he once again slid into two successive defeats to Thai Petch Sor Chitpattana for the WBC Youth World flyweight title in Thailand and ALA Boxing Gym’s Jerson Mancio for the Gab Philippine lightflyweight title earlier this year.

“We have the power and the skills and we are looking at a knockout win because we trained very hard for this title,” said Kaamino.

“We will just be very cautious because we heard that Silvano is a slugger and also has power. But I am confident that my boxer will triumph in this bout,”  added Kaamino, who said Cebuano fans will surely enjoy the fight. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL