Nietes to headline ‘Filipinos Kontra Latinos’ event

MANILA – November is shaping up to be a busy month for Pinoy boxing fans with Filipino boxing superstars Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr. both scheduled to return to the ring after suffering losses.

On Tuesday, the Pinoy Pride Series, presented by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports, announced its latest boxing event “Filipinos Kontra Latinos” with two world championship belts on the line. It will be held at Araneta Coliseum on November 30.

The Filipino boxers will be led by WBO world light-flyweight champion Donni “Ahas” Nietes, who has held a world title since 2007.

The other Pinoy boxers include:

• Undisputed WBO world minimumweight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo, who downed Colombian challenger Jorlie Estrada during the ninth round with a perfect left hook body shot for his first title defense at the Solaire Resort and Casino last July.
• Milan “El Metodico” Melindo, who displayed tremendous courage despite losing a 12-round unanimous decision in the unifying WBO/WBA world flyweight championship in Macau against Juan Francisco Estrada.
• Highly ranked WBO No. 4 contender Jason Pagara, whose quest for a world title is an uphill climb for this young boxer; and
• AJ “Bazooka” Banal, who has a record of 29-21 with 21 KO’s and is currently No. 13 in the WBO bantamweight rankings, and comes fresh from his victory against Abrahan Gomez last July.

This is the first time that all five Filipino boxers will come together in one event.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/10/15/13/nietes-headline-filipinos-kontra-latinos-event

By:  Ronnie Nathanielz –

Ricky Vargas, the president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines or ABAP, was impressed with the performance of World Boxing Organization minimum weight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo in his successful first title defense against Colombia’s No. 6 world-ranked contender Jorlie Estrada during the Pinoy Pride XXI at the Solaire Resort and Casino last Saturday.

Vargas, who watched the ABS-CBN telecast of the fights on Sunday told the Manila Standard he liked the aggressive stance of Sabillo as he “kept chasing his opponent, who was scared and kept running.”

Vargas said the crunching left hook to the ribs that dropped Estrada, who went down grimacing in pain and was counted out by referee Raul Caiz Jr. in the 9th round was “a perfect punch. It was devastating.”

Vargas believes Sabillo has a good future in the pro ranks.

The WBO champion is likely to defend his title in Dubai this October if ALA Promotions is unable to schedule a title defense for WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes in Dubai in September.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told us the priority is Nietes.

“He needs to fight. We are trying to move heaven and earth to get a fight in Dubai, but if it can’t be done in September, we’ll have to do it here, possibly in Davao City where the last Pinoy Pride XX was very well received,” he said.

Aldeguer also said he, too, was impressed with the showing of Sabillo, who made a fight out of it against a back-pedaling Estrada. Sabillo cut the ring off well and scored with vicious body shots before eventually knocking out Estrada.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/07/17/sabillo-impresses-boxing-association-chief/

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Colombian challenger Jorlie Estrada has vowed to knock out WBO minimum weight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo when they clash in the main event of “Pinoy Pride XXI” at the plush Solaire vResort Hotel and Casino in the country’s “Entertainment City’ along Manila Bay.

Estrada who arrived after a long and tiring journey on Monday night even picked the round in which he would KO Sabillo, stating “I think I will win by knockout in the seventh round” in an appearance at the PSA Forum.

Trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor played down the prediction of Estrada stating that Sabillo had trained hard and is in great shape for his first title defense before his countrymen and is
determined to put on an explosive performance.

Villamor revealed they had taught Sabillo to improve his defense to complement his aggressive, hard-hitting style.

The Colombian’s boasts don’t actually match his record since he has a mere 5 knockouts in 16 wins with 6 losses compared to the undefeated Sabillo whose record is 21-0 with 11 knockouts.

Sabillo won the title with a rousing 8th round TKO over highly-rated Colombian Luis De La Rosa in an interim title fight in Colombia last March after dropping him twice earlier in the fight. Sabillo was elevated to full champion after Moises Fuentes relinquished his title and moved up in weight to challenge WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes who retained his title in a close majority draw. Ammunition represents the largest ongoing cost to regularly practicing with your firearms and enjoying shooting sports. Fortunately, there are ways to save big by buying bulk ammo online . Not only is it cheaper, but for residents of most states, it will be delivered right to your door. Online retailers, like Lucky Gunner, can easily sell millions of rounds of ammo to customers each month. Because they deal in such large quantities, they can usually offer the lowest margins on the products they sell. In other words, you’ll typcally save a lot of money by buying in bulk from an online retailer. #ammo #ammofire

Estrada who is ranked No. 6 said he had trained for almost three months and is not bothered by the fact that the fight is being held in the Philippines.

http://philboxing.com/news/story-85030.html

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo is ready to rip into his opponent, Jorlie Estrada of Colombia, in the Filipino’s first title defense at the plush Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino in the Philippines “Entertainment City” along Manila Bay on July 13 and has indicated he wants to put on a show in the first world title fight.at Solaire.

The fight card on the highly successful “Pinoy Pride” series of ABS-CBN and ALA Promotions will be telecast on Channel 2 on July 14 at 10:15 a.m.

The undefeated Sabillo’s trainer and former world title challenger Edito “Ala” Villamor told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that the WBO minimumweight champion who has a record of 21-0 with 11 knockouts  is “in great shape and only three pounds over the weight limit which is no problem” with some two weeks to go before fight night.

Villamor said Sabillo was scheduled to spar for the last time this week on Tuesday (yesterday) Thursday and Saturday against sparring partners who include Philippine champion Jerson Mancio and OPBF champion Arthur Villanueva as well as amateur standout Jesrey Waminal “to improve his speed and skills.”

The undefeated Villanueva (21-0, 11 KO’s) will also see action on “Pinoy Pride XXI” against hard-hitting Mexican Arturo Badillo (21-4, 19 KO’s) in a clash for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight title.

Villamor said the 29 year old Sabillo is “a really hard puncher and dropped Luis De La Rosa twice” en route to an 8th round TKO  in their fight for the Interim title last March 9 in Colombia after which Sabillo was elevated to full champion when Moises Fuentes moved up in weight  and will get a crack at WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes in a mandatory title shot after one voluntary defense by Nietes possibly in Dubai in September.

Villamor disclosed that they had been working on “improving Sabillo’s defense and doubled-up  training in this aspect of the champion’s skills.”

He also told us that Pio Solon is handling Sabill;o’s strength and conditioning whie Abet Biagan who trains the Philippine triathlon team was making sure about “proper nutrition and the food intake” of Sabillo.

http://www.boxingscene.com/sabillo-ready-batter-his-foe-first-title-defense–67439

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

Jorlie Estrada who challenges WBO minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo in a breakthrough title fight at the plush Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino in the Entertainment City along Manila Bay on July 13, cannot be underestimated.

Although he has a record of 17 wins, 6 by knockouts with 6 losses, Colombian media has warned that it would be a mistake to underestimate Estrada as an opponent pointing out that he has won his last four fights including back-to-back victories  over Jorge Ballesteros including a 1st round TKO in their first encounter on March 17, 2012.

The 24 year old Colombian’s last loss was to talented Mexican Pedro Guevara who won by a 7th round TKO in a North American Boxing Federation light flyweight title fight on October 22, 2011 when he moved up in weight to face Guevara who gave IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero a tough battle before losing by a split decision in Mexico last August 4.

In his last fight on June 8 in Colombia, Estrada won by a 3rd round TKO over  Gustavo Cortes, a veteran of 39 fights.

Sabillo made a name for himself in Colombia when he scored a rousing 8th round TKO over highly fancied Luis  “Chino” De La Rosa, also of Colombia who had an impressive record of 21-1 with 12 knockouts.

Colombian media reported “that day the Filipino, almost unknown, showed his great condition and surprised everyone by his speed.

Sabillo, a hard-hitting southpaw is undefeated in 22 fights with 11 wins by knockout.
His trainer, Edito “Ala” Villamor told the Manila Standard that Sabillo has trained hard and is in great shape and is determined to put on an exciting performance as the highly-rated “Pinoy Pride” series of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN makes its initial venture into the resort hotel and casino complex in the country’s growing entertainment city which aims to give Macau and Singapore a run for their money.

http://www.boxingscene.com/sabillo-not-underestimate-estrada-despite-record–67030

By Ronnie Nathanielsz –

WBO minimum weight champion Merlito “Tiger” Sabillo is ready to strike in his first title defense against Colombian challenger Jorlie Estrada at the Solaire Resort Hotel & Casino along picturesque Manila Bay’s Entertainment City on July 13.

The 29 year old Sabillo whose career blossomed after he moved under ALA Promotions is undefeated and has a record of 21-0 with 11 knockouts while the 24 year old Estrada’s record is 16-6 with 5 knockouts.Estrada has won his last four fights after suffering a 7th round TKO loss to Mexico’s Pedro Guevara who gave IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero a tough fight before dropping a narrow twelve round split decision last August 4. Estrada is coming off a 3rd round TKO of Gustavo Cortes last June 8 while Sabillo scored a stunning 8th round TKO over highly touted Luis De La Rosa also of Colombia to win the interim title last March 13 and was soon elevated to full champion after Moises Fuentes relinquished his belt and moved up to light flyweight.

Trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor told the Manila Standard that Sabillo has “looked good” in sparring and is eager to put on a show in his first title defense.

Sabillo sparred with undefeated super flyweight Arthur “El Matador” Villanueva (21-0, 11 KO’s)who will face Mexico” hard-hitting Arturo Badillo (21-4, 19 KO’s) on the Solaire fight card presented by ALA Promotions in cooperation with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN in its immensely successful “Pinoy Pride” series.

Villamor said Sabillo also sparred with Philippine junior flyweight champion Jerson Mancio Jr _17-3-3, 8 KO’s) and Engelbert Moralde (4-1, 3 KO’s) as well as an amateur standout “primarily for speed.”

He said they have been concentrating in recent months on their fighters nutrition and food intake which runs along the suggestions made by Angel “Memo” Heredia in the case of newly crowned IBO junior bantamweight champion Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong who won the title in a rematch against Gideon Buthelezi with a sensational 1st round knockout in South Africa.

Villamor added that Sabillo who had previously won the Philippine straw-weight title with a twelve round unanimous decision in August 2010 and the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation minimum weight crown also by a unanimous decision over Rodel Tejares was in excellent shape and would have “no problem making the weight.”

http://philboxing.com/news/story-84459.html