Merlito Sabillo (born January 19, 1984) is a Filipino professional

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: *Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing * Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

. He is a former

WBO The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is an organization which sanctions professional boxing bouts. It is recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as one of the four major world championship groups, alongside the World Boxin ...

Minimumweight World Champion.

Professional career

Early years as professional boxer

In 2008, at the age of 24, Sabillo started his career as professional boxer. On, August 1, 2010, he won the Philippines Games and Amusement Board (GAB) strawweight title against Jetly Purisima via twelve round unanimous decision. On October 8, 2011, Sabillo won the vacant

OPBF The Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) is a professional boxing organization that sanctions title fights in the Asian and Pacific region. History Oriental boxing started in the Philippines in 1946 after the Spanish-American War. Whi ...

Minimumweight Title against his landsman Rodel Tejares via twelve round unanimous decision.

Minimumweight division

On March 9, 2013, Sabillo defeated Colombia's Luis de la Rosa via 8-round technical knockout to win the interim WBO Minimumweight world title. He was later promoted to full champion after original champion Moises Fuentes vacated the title to move up to Light Flyweight. He successfully made his first title defence against Jorle Estrada on July 13, 2013. He retained his title for a second time against Nicaraguan

Carlos Buitrago Carlos Alberto Buitrago Rojas (born December 16, 1991) is a Nicaraguan professional boxer. He has challenged four times for a world championship: the WBO mini flyweight title in 2013, the IBF mini flyweight title in 2017, and the WBO junior f ...

in a bout ending in a disputed split decision. In his next fight, Sabillo lost the title to Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. via tenth round TKO. On November 15, 2014 Merlito Sabillo lost to the hard-hitting

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Ellias Nggenggo. The fight turned into street brawl as the two fighters, throwing some wild punches and hard exchanges. In the end Merlito Sabillo come up short as the Indonesian visitor Ellias Nggenggo wins the bout. On June 12, 2015, Sabillo defeated his fellow Filipino Countrymen Powell Balaba into a 6 round fighting contest that was held at the L' Fisher Hotel, La Proa Ballroom, Bacolod, Negros Occidental, Philippines. On November 29, 2015, he defeated the Indonesian Fighter Jack Amisa into a 6 round contest. On May 8, 2016, he face the Japanese Prospect Riku Kano at Bunka Center, Sanda,

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for the interim

Minimumweight Mini flyweight, also known as paperweight, minimumweight, strawweight, or super atomweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing In professional boxing, boxers in the minimumweight division may weigh no more than . This is a relatively new ...

title. In the earlier rounds, Merlito used his experience as he utilized his Left Straight Hand and Right Hook. Kano began to warm up with rounds 3 and 4 being much more competitive. Going at the last 4 rounds both men started to show the signs of fatigue at the ring. Kano was trying to pickup the fight and began to land shots while Sabillo lost his footwork and could not connect any of his punches to his opponent. Both men displayed their courage in the ring and they gave the audience a better fight. In the end Sabillo fell short and the much younger Japanese Prospect Riku Kano wins the bout and the

title. On November 11, 2016, the Former World Champion Merlito Sabillo was back to

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for the second time as he faced the hard-hitting Japanese Professional Boxer Ryuya Yamanaka for the vacant

title. Sabillo started well in the earlier rounds as he landed clean shots establishing his ground on the earlier bout. As the bout progressed Yamanaka built his confidence as he connected a body shot on Sabillo and landed some serious shots on him making Sabillo lost his ground and his defense as the fight proceeds. In the end Sabillo fell short and Yamanaka claim the

title, making Sabillo, make his second lost in

Light flyweight division

On May 27, 2017 he defeated the Indonesian Fighter, Jack Amisa for a vacant Asian Boxing Federation Light Flyweight title. He successfully defend his Asian Boxing Federation Light Flyweight Title to his Filipino Countrymen Crison Omayao. On February 17, 2018 Merlito Sabillo lost to the undefeated Filipino Prospect Edward Heno to a 12-round fight for the unification of

Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation The Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) is a professional boxing organization that sanctions title fights in the Asian and Pacific region. History Oriental boxing started in the Philippines in 1946 after the Spanish-American War. While ...

and Asian Boxing Federation Light Flyweight titles. On September 15, 2018 he fought the Chinese Fighter Jing Xiang for a vacant

World Boxing Council The World Boxing Council (WBC) is an international professional boxing organization. It is among the four major organizations which sanction professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation ...

Silver Light Flyweight title where he lost by unanimous decision.

Professional boxing record

Titles in boxing

''Major World Titles:'' *

Minimumweight Champion ''(105 lbs)'' ''Regional Titles:'' *

Minimumweight title. ''(105 lbs)'' *ABF light flyweight Title ''(108 lbs)'' *Philippines Games & Amusement Board Minimumweight title. ''(105 lbs)''

References

External links

* , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Sabillo, Merlito Living people Boxers from Negros Occidental 1984 births Mini-flyweight boxers World mini-flyweight boxing champions World Boxing Organization champions Filipino male boxers 21st-century Filipino sportsmen