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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, October 20, 2017
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MassKara bout: Sabillo eyes crucial win
FILIPINO boxer Merlito Sabillo is eyeing a crucial win when he defends his ASEAN Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight belt against Crison Omayao tonight at the SM City Bacolod Parking Area.
A win over Omayao is very much important for the Toboso, Negros Occidental native for it will allow him to fight again abroad and increase his chances of having another world title bout.
Sabillo, a former WBO world minimumweight champion, needs to win at least two of his last three matches for his Philippine Games and Amusements Board suspension to play abroad to be lifted.
Sabillo was temporarily banned from fighting outside of the Philippines after suffering twin defeats in 2016 against Japanese boxers Ryuya Yamanaka and Riku Kano before tasting victory in his last fight against Indonesian Jack Amisa.
“This fight is important for me to win so that I will be able to fight abroad again and possibly have another shot at world championship,” said the 33-year-old Sabillo. “So, I really prepared for this match.”
Sabillo is set to parade an impressive 26-4-1 win-loss-draw ring record, including 13 stoppage wins, while fellow veteran boxer Omayao has a 22-14-4 boxing slate, with seven knockout wins.
The Sabillo-Omayao match is the main event of the “Fist of Glory: Double Championship –Road to Glory” fight card presented by Maris-Monju-Mayor Bing Leonardia Boxing Development Program as part of the Masskara Festival.
Other fights include Cauayan, Negros Occidental’s Jay-R Raquinel vs Richard Rosales for the OPBF interim flyweight belt, Murcia’s Ernesto Alira vs Bacolod’s Michael Zulueta, Murcia’s Elmer Liboon vs Bacolod’s Mark Sy, and Murcia’s Tomas Rebusit vs San Carlos City’s Mark Mahilum.
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings head coach Tim Cone said he regretted not shaking the hand of Meralco Bolts mentor Norman Black on Wednesday evening.
In a press statement sent to Buzzer Beater on Thursday morning, Cone admitted he was “upset” by Black’s late timeout despite the Bolts having a wide margin already in the game.
“Yes, I was upset about the timeout that was called late in the game but there is no one in the PBA that I respect more than Norman Black,” the 19-time PBA champion coach said.
Cone was visibly pissed in the waning moments of Game 3 after Black deliberately called a timeout with just 38 seconds left in the game despite Bolts’ 10 point lead and set up a 3-point shot on Reynel Hugnatan.
At the close of the match, Cone refused to shake the hand of Black and instead expressed some choice words to the opposing coach as he headed toward the exit of Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“I regret my actions after Game 3 ended,” Cone said. “I got caught up in the moment and could have handled it differently. I apologize to him and will do so personally (during Game 4).”
Black’s deliberate timeout was uncalled for. It’s like rubbing salt on the injury. As a veteran PBA coach, he should know that. And there is nothing to boast since Bolts is still trailing in the series./PN
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