Sabillo wins interim WBO minimumweight title via KO in Colombia - report

According to a report from Fightnews.com, Merlito Sabillo of the Philippines scored an upset knockout win over Luis De La Rosa of Columbia, Saturday (Sunday, PHL time). Sabillo won via eighth round technical knockout to claim the interim WBO minimumweight title at the Coliseo Mario De Leon Cerete, in Cordoba, Colombia. The same report noted that it was an action-packed affair from the start, with the Colombian getting the better of the exchanges in the early going. However, things turned sour for the local fighter in round eight as he was dropped by a right hand from the southpaw Sabillo. De La Rosa was able to beat the count but he was floored moments later, this time by a left straight from Sabillo. the local fighter gamely stood up but the referee stopped the fight at 2:58 of the eighth round as De La Rosa was in no shape to continue. Sabillo now holds the interim version of the WBO minimumweight title. The world championship is currently held by Mexico’s Moises Fuentes, who recently went up in weight and managed to get a draw against WBO light flyweight champion and Sabillo’s follow ALA fighter Donnie “Ahas” Nietes. Because of the result of the Nietes-Fuentes fight, it appears that the two will be having a rematch soon, which also means that Fuentes will need to relinquish his world title. This would be a tremendous opportunity for Sabillo who will then be promoted to world champion. According to the report, the crowd gave the two fighters a standing ovation for the tremendous fight and the Cordoba mayor invited Sabillo back to their city to battle another Colombian in the near future. - CLP/AMD, GMA News