Sabillo challenges Heno in Bacolod

FORMER World Boxing Organization ( W B O ) minimumweight titleholder Merlito Sabillo will challenge Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) champ Edward Heno on Feb. 2 in Bacolod City.

Sabillo hopes to open up another opportunity for a run at a world title with a win over Heno, rated in three of the four major world boxing sanctioning bodies.

“He’s unbeaten and hungry. I won’t take any chances and he must not take me lightly. Both of us are looking for the victory,” the 33-year-old Sabillo told SunStar Cebu.

Sabillo hasn’t been his dominant self since losing his WBO belt to Francisco Rodriguez by a 10th round technical knockout in 2014. He has won just three of his last six fights. Sabillo, however, has won back-to-back contests against veterans Jack Amisa and Chris Omayao.

The 25-year-old Heno is one of the most promising Filipino pugs in the light flyweight division. He’s ranked No. 13 in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 14 in both the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Two of his most notable wins were knockout wins over Cris Ganoza and Japanese Seita Ogido, whom he beat for the OPBF crown. Sabillo, now based in his hometown of Bacolod City, is 27-41 with 13 knockouts, while Heno is 11-0-5 with five knockouts. Sun.Star Cebu