FORMER World Boxing Organization (WBO) Minimumweight world champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo returned to the winning track after two consecutive losses Friday night as he scored a unanimous decision victory against the game Powell Balaba in Bacolod City.
The Sabillo-Balaba tiff was in the undercard of the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation’s “The Big Challenge: Champion vs Champion” card headlined by Cebuano Ardie Boyose and Manila’s Argie Toquero for the WBC Youth World super featherweight title.
Sabillo, who lost to Francisco Rodriguez Jr. for the WBO Minimumweight world title in Mexico last year and to unheralded Indonesian Fares Nenggo in Cebu, finally put a hold to his frustrating fall after he outpointed Balaba (8-14-1 5KO) to grab his 24th win with 12 knockouts along with two losses and a draw.
All three fight judges scored the bout in favor of the ALA Boxing Gym star, 60-53, 60-53 and 59-54.
Meanwhile, two Cebuanos saw action in the card namely Jack “Golden Boy” Tepora and Boyose.
Tepora of the Omega Boxing Gym in Mabolo, scored a fifth-round technical knockout (TKO) victory against journey man Jelo Merlin in their undercard bout scheduled for 10 rounds. It was Tepora’s 14th victory with 10 knockouts.
Meanwhile, Boyose (15-0-2 11 KOs) of the Noy Pacing Boxing Stable, capped off his 12-round showdown against Toquero (8-3-2 6KOs) with a split draw for the WBC Youth World super featherweight title.
One judge had Boyose the winner, 94-92 while another picked Toquero by the same score. The third judge saw it a 93-93 draw.
Meanwhile, former WBC and Ring Magazine flyweight title holder Sonny Boy Jaro (41-13-5 28KOs) scored a second-round knockout of Donriel Marcos (3-7-2) in the undercard. /Reporter Glendale G. Rosal