Sabillo stops Colombian foe to claim interim WBO crown

CEBU, Philippines - After fighting behind the shade of his more illustrious stablemates, the undefeated ALA Boxing Gym fighter Merlito 'Tiger' Sabillo finally found his place in the sun after scoring a spectacular eighth round TKO win over Colombia's hometown idol Luis de la Rosa to snatch the interim WBO minimumweight title on Saturday night (Sunday morning Phl time) at the Coliseo Mario De Leon Cerete in Cordoba, Colombia. 

Aside from stretching his clean record to 21-0 now packed with 11KOs, the 29-year-old Sabillo also earned a mandatory shot at reigning WBO 105-pound titlist Moises Fuentes of Mexico.

There's also a possibility that Sabillo will be declared as the regular champion should Fuentes decides to stay in the light flyweight division where he failed to snatch the crown following a controversial majority draw with two-division world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes last March 2 at the Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Sabillo's triumph was a historic one since it marks for the first time that two boxers under the aegis of Cebu's fabled ALA Stable hold two world championship belts at the same time. Interestingly, Sabillo is also a Negrense like Nietes. Sabillo comes from the town of Toboso in Negros Occidental, while Nietes hails from Murcia, just three kilometers away from Bacolod City.

"I'm very happy for him," said ALA Promotions big boss Antonio "Bidoy" L. Aldeguer. "Before he left, Sabillo promised me that he will do everything he can to win the title and I'm so proud he did it."

Lee Bates, the American agent of ALA Promotions who is now living in Colombia, was all praise for Sabillo adding that the Colombian fans were so impressed that they gave Sabillo a standing ovation after his splendid performance.

"Congratulations gentlemen for a job well done. It was an excellent win by Sabillo. I watched the fight live here in Colombia. They gave him a standing ovation and welcomed him to come back in July and fight again. Sabillo really was well prepared and impressed many including me by winning by TKO," said Bates in a text message sent to Aldeguer shortly after the bout.

In a report by fightnews.com, Sabillo and de la Rosa figured in an action-packed, non-stop exchange of blows right from the opening bell. The Colombian brawler sustained a cut right in the first round, but it only fired him up to unleash a barrage of power shots that rocked Sabillo on several occasions. Sabillo, however, was relisilient enough in taking De la Rosa's punches.

The same report further stated that "the tide changed in the eighth round when the southpaw Sabillo dropped De La Rosa with a right hand. De La Rosa beat the count but physically looked in serious trouble. Sabillo pounced right on him when the action resumed and dropped him again with a straight left."

De La Rosa beat the count anew but was visibly dazed and groggy, forcing the referee to wave off the bout at the 2:58 mark of round eight.— with Lemuel P. Maglinte