Saturday's card features former world champ vs. undefeated Albuquerque boxer

Aug. 4—A decade and four months ago, Merlito Sabillo won a world boxing title.

Based on the available data, Sabillo at age 39 is no longer the fighter he was then. But is he washed up?

Albuquerque's Matt Griego-Ortega, Sabillo's opponent in the main event of a pro card Saturday at Expo New Mexico, hopes the answer is no.

Beyond a victory, and the North American Boxing Association flyweight title that would accompany it, Griego-Ortega is seeking a challenge and a learning experience from a savvy veteran.

Is Sabillo (27-8-1, 13 knockouts), at this stage of his career, the best fighter Griego-Ortega (13-0, nine KOs) will have faced?

"I don't know," Griego-Ortega said. "I'd hate to say that and then it doesn't happen."

What Griego-Ortega does know is that he'll find himself in the ring with a veteran of 36 professional fights over a span of 15 1/2 years.

"I know he's gonna have tricks," Griego-Ortega said. "He has a lot of experience. Obviously he's a little older; he's not the world champion he was, but ... he's a veteran. I expect him to be a little tricky. But we'll see."

Sabillo, asked what he expected from Griego-Ortega, said, "I know Matt is a good fighter, a good undefeated fighter. Strong. I respect Matt. Good boxer."

Asked what he expected of himself, he said, "I'll do my best to win and give a good fight."

Sabillo won his world title in March 2013, beating Luis de La Rosa by eighth-round TKO in the Philippines. He successfully defended the title twice, via a win and a draw, before losing it by 10th-round TKO to Francisco Rodriguez Jr.

Since the loss to Rodriguez in March 2014, Sabillo is 4-7 and has lost his last four bouts. Those four losses, though, have come against opponents with a combined record of 62-8-9.

One of the four, Mexico's Daniel Valladares, went on to become the IBF world 105-pound champion.

Sabillo held the Asian Federation light flyweight title as recently as 2017.

Of some concern for Sabillo is that Saturday's bout is his first at the flyweight limit of 112 pounds. He weighed in on Friday at 110.2 pounds, Griego-Ortega at 112 even.

CHANGE IN THE CORNER: Albuquerque light heavyweight Lorenzo Benavidez (3-5-2, one KO) has switched trainers, working with Manuel Anaya after having spent his entire career with Steve Garcia.

"I just felt like I needed to make some adjustments," said Benavidez, who's matched against Texan Gabriel Rodriguez (0-1) on Saturday in scheduled four-rounder. "... Every coach coaches differently. Everyone has their style, everyone breaks things down differently and it was just time for a change, for sure."

Of Garcia, he said, "I still have mad love and respect for the guy. There's no hard feelings on either side."

Rodriguez weighed in at 176 pounds Friday, six pounds over the contracted weight. The bout will go on as scheduled after accommodation was reached with Benavidez and with the New Mexico Athletic Commission.

Benavidez weighed in at 169 pounds.

A BOXER NOW: When last interviewed by the Journal, Albuquerque's Quentin DeLeon was winning his fight on a 2019 Muay Thai kickboxing card at Route 66 Casino Hotel. Now, he said, he's focusing solely on boxing.

"Muay Thai is really a lot just about body conditioning," he said, "about getting (the body) prepared for the kicks, the elbows, the knees. (Boxing) is just straight science with the hands, and I'm blessed just to be learning this at this time."

DeLeon is scheduled to make his pro boxing debut on Saturday against fellow Albuquerquean Jose Vialpando (0-3) in a four-round super flyweight bout.

BEATING THE HEAT: Saturday's card will be staged outdoors at Expo New Mexico's Villa Hispana exhibit, but event coordinator Doris Robinson said the entire seating area will be covered by a canopy.

Saturday's forecast calls for a high temperature approaching 100 degrees, with little change by 6 p.m, when fans can be admitted, or 7, when the fights are scheduled to begin.