Pinoy Pride XI Newest ALA fighter to face Indon champ

CEBU, Philippines - Undefeated Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) minimumweight champion Merlito ‘Tiger’ Sabillo, the latest addition to the star-studded list of ALA Boxing Gym fighters, is set to face Indonesian champion Sofyan Effendi in the undercard of ‘Pinoy Pride XI’ set on January 28 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Sabillo is best remembered for punching his way to a masterful unanimous decision victory over Rodel Tejares Singwangcha to snatch the OPBF belt during the ninth installment of the highly-successful Pinoy Pride series last October 8 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in Bacolod City.

The 27-year-old Sabillo is unscathed in 16 ring battles that started off when he clobbered Powell Balaba on January 26, 2008 at the PAGCOR Hotel and Casino, Goldenfield Commercial Complex in Bacolod.

He boasts of seven wins by knockout, the last was a seventh round stoppage of Roger Echavez that crowned him the country's minimumweight king seven months ago.

Effendi, for his part, carries an 11-11 card spiked with 9KOs but is know to be a sturdy and durable fighter. He put up a gallant stand, albeit for a losing cause against ALA Stable standout Milan "Melinyo" Melindo on March 7, 2008 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center.

Coincidentally, Melindo, now the reigning WBO Intercontinental flyweight title-holder, will headline the hotly-anticipated card against the dangerous Mexican Juan Esquer.

Mindanao brawler and reigning WBO Oriental featherweight titlist Lorenzo ‘Thunderbolt’ Villanueva will also see action in the undercard with no confirmed foe. (FREEMAN)