Sabillo nears peak form for first WBO defense

CEBU, Philippines - WBO minimumweight champion Merlito 'Tiger' Sabillo (21-0, 11KOs) is close to peak form two weeks ahead of his title defense against Colombian challenger Jorle Jacinto Estrada (16-6, 5KOs) in the main event of the 'Pinoy Pride XXI: When Worlds Collide' fightcard slated on July 13 at the Solaire Casino and Leisure Park in Pasay City.

"He is now 90 percent ready with a little over two weeks to go before the fight," said ALA chief trainer Edito Villamor. "This is his first defense and he will do it in front of his 'kababayans' that is why he is training very hard to make sure that he won't let his fans down."

Sabillo has just logged in over a hundred rounds of no-holds-barred sparring session against fellow ALA boxers in Jerson Mancio, Lito Dante, Kim Galon, Ryan Canillas, Engelbert Moralde and Arthur Villanueva, the undefeated OPBF super flyweight champion.

Sabillo, who hails from Toboso, Negros Occidental, captured the vacant WBO belt with a masterful eight round TKO win over Colombian Luis De La Rosa last March 9 at the Coliseo San Vicente in Colombia.

"Honestly, my training camp is much harder now compared to my training for the world title. I really need to win this one impressively," said Sabillo. "When I captured the belt in Colombia, the fans there gave me a standing ovation and I want that also to happen during my fight in Manila."

The 29-year-old Sabillo is still five pounds over the regulatory 105-pound limit, but his camp is confident that the Filipino champ would easily make weight in time for the big day.

Sabillo, together with Villanueva and two-time world title challenger AJ "Bazooka" Banal, will fly next week to Manila to put the finishing touches of his rigorous training.

Villanueva (21-0, 11KOs) also girds up for a tough mission as he vies for the WBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight crown against Mexican Arturo 'Fuerte' Badillo (21-4, 19KOs), while Banal (28-2, 20KOs) will make his ring comeback after a failed world title shot against Mexican Abraham Gomez (18-7, 9KOs). (FREEMAN)