Rodriguez seeks world title in bout at home against Sabillo

Rodriguez seeks world title in bout at home against Sabillo

Francisco Rodriguez (13-2-0, 9 knockouts) seeks to realize the cherished dream of becoming world champion, but will face Merlito Sabillo (23-0-1, 12 KOs) , a southpaw with great experience and who is still undefeated.

The WBO minimum weight title will be in dispute and Rodriguez is expected to have great support from the crowd who is excited to see a Monterrey native fight in an event of this magnitude.

The fight will be on Saturday, Mar. 22 at the Arena Monterrey and will support the main event between Jorge Paez Jr. (37-4-1, 22 KOs) and Vivian Harris (31-9-2, 19 KOs) , who was called in to replace Erik Morales after “El Terrible” right hand was injured in training. The initial replacement was set to be Colombia’s Breidis Prescott, but Prescott hurt his ribs in preparation.

Nicknamed ” Chihuas ” Rodriguez , 20, dreamed as a child of becoming a soccer goalie, but his uncle took him to the boxing gym to learn to defend himself of the children who teased him. He loved boxing and kept training hard, then became a top prospect and represented the state of Nuevo Leon in four amateur national tournaments until his professional debut.

Currently he is training in Uppercut Boxing Club in San Pedro, in the Monterrey metropolitan area . The event will be transmited in Mexico by TV Azteca. Zanfer will be promoting.

Rodriguez comes to this fight with two straight wins after losing by TKO in the seventh round to Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez in September 2013 in Nicaragua. Gonzalez remains unbeaten and one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best, so there is no shame in that defeat.

Sabillo, 30, of the Philippines, will defend his title for the third time. In his most recent bout last November, he drew with Carlos Buitrago, retaining his title.

-Federico Perez

-Contributor to www.BehindTheGloves.com