Sabillo now a regular champion

MERLITO Sabillo has been elevated from interim to regular mini-flyweight champion by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). “It’s confirmed that he is the world champion,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer announced in a press conference at St. Marks Hotel yesterday. The unbeaten Sabillo captured the interim WBO mini-flyweight belt just last month with an eighth round technical knockout over Luis de la Rosa in Colombia. ALA Promotions has two options for Sabillo’s next fight. The 29-year-old Negrense could have his voluntary title defense outside the country or in front of his hometown fans in Bacolod City. Sabillo, 21-0 with 11 knockouts, replaced Moises Fuentes as the regular WBO 105-pound champion because the latter has climbed to the next division. If ever another all-Filipino title fight can’t be evaded, then ALA Promotions is willing to pit Sabillo with another Filipino. Denver Cuello, Cuello, 33-4-6 with 21 knockouts, is the current No. 1 contender of the WBO mini-flyweight division and could be a possible opponent for Sabillo in a mandatory title defense.