It’s not over for Tiger

CEBU , Philippines  â€“ Merlito (Tiger) Sabillo vowed the other day to come roaring back after losing the WBO minimumweight title to Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. in Monterrey a week ago and said he’s looking forward to a rematch to prove his defeat was a fluke.

Sabillo, 30, looked totally out of focus when he was stopped by Rodriguez at 1:50 of the 10th round in the third defense of his throne last March 22. It was Sabillo’s trainer Edito Villamor who signaled surrender as he climbed onto the ring apron with Rodriguez mercilessly on the attack. Referee Eddie Claudio of Brooklyn stopped it on Villamor’s call with Sabillo reeling helplessly across the ring.

“No excuses, he beat me to the punch,” said Sabillo in Filipino. “I really don’t know what happened. That wasn’t me who fought Rodriguez. I couldn’t do what I wanted, my legs wouldn’t go where I wanted. I’ve fought harder punchers and won but I felt differently that night. Right in the first round, he hit my left eye and my sight blacked out. I went down in the second round and I thought it was over. But I didn’t want to quit, I wanted to fight back. I tried to recover. He just kept coming in. His body punches hurt me. Before the seventh round, Edito wanted to stop it but I refused to quit. I asked for a few more rounds. I knew I had to knock him out to win. It just didn’t happen.”

Sabillo arrived here last Wednesday on a connecting flight from Los Angeles to Manila. He trained over a month in the US, sparring mostly with stablemate and WBO lightflyweight titlist Donnie Nietes who came along for the ride. Sabillo worked out in Los Angeles and San Diego. Asked if he was burned out or over-trained, Sabillo said he just follows what his training team tells him to do. He couldn’t even remember how many rounds he sparred. But he admitted being asked by friends if he was over-trained because he fought out-of-synch.

Sabillo was at the Ayala Center here to receive a major award from the Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) a few hours after his plane touched down. His face was unmarked, not a tell-tale sign from the punishment he took less than a week before in Monterrey. His mood was upbeat. Sabillo said he’s talked about his future with ALA head Tony Aldeguer and ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer. “I told Sir ALA and Sir Michael I want to continue fighting, that I’ll win the title back,” said Sabillo.

There is a rematch clause in Sabillo’s fight contract with Rodriguez and ALA Promotions will exercise two options. Sabillo said he will do a tune-up fight before facing Rodriguez in a return bout.

“I didn’t expect Rodriguez to fight that way,” said Sabillo. “I watched at least three of his fights on YouTube, including his loss to Chocolatito (Roman Gonzalez) and his win over (Manuel) Vargas. He fought differently against me than when he fought Chocolatito and Vargas. I was prepared to go to the body and box but he never gave me a chance. Next time, I’ll take the initiative and beat him to the punch.”

Sabillo, who had never been beaten, said it just wasn’t his night. “I’m sorry I let Sir ALA, Sir Michael and the Filipino fans down,” he said. “But I’ll be back. That wasn’t me who fought Rodriguez. I’ll bring back the Tiger in our rematch.”

The second of three children, Sabillo said all he wants is to continue making a good living out of boxing to support his father, a widowed construction worker. His mother died of complications from a goiter condition two years ago. He’s not married, he doesn’t have a girlfriend, his only focus is boxing.

Michael Aldeguer said he was shocked beyond belief when Sabillo was dominated by Rodriguez. SAC president Rico Navarro said he agreed with Aldeguer’s view that Sabillo had overachieved in winning the world title through sheer guts and heart. Now that the quality of his opposition has advanced to a higher level, Sabillo won’t just be able to rely on courage to win – he has to upgrade his skills and power, too.

Rodriguez is 10 years younger than Sabillo but the Filipino started his pro career a little late as the Toboso, Negros Occidental southpaw was 24 when he made his debut in 2008. The loss dropped Sabillo’s record to 23-1-1, with 12 KOs, compared to Rodriguez’ 14-2, with 10 KOs.