Jing Xiang’s Qinzhou Battle Opens a New Door
Jing Xiang won the vacant WBC Silver light-flyweight championship against former world champion Merlito Sabillo on September 15, 2018. Their twelve-round contest at Qinzhou Gymnasium in China ended in a unanimous decision for Xiang, giving him a significant regional breakthrough against experienced opposition.
Sabillo tests the home fighter
Sabillo’s southpaw left hand troubled Xiang in the early rounds. Xiang responded as the fight continued and finished strongly in front of the home crowd. The judges returned scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 118–110, all favoring the Chinese boxer.
The result moved Xiang’s record at that point to fifteen wins, four losses and two draws. Sabillo, who had previously held the WBO minimumweight championship, provided a recognizable test as Xiang pursued opportunities in the lighter divisions.
Regional success builds a ranking
In January 2019, Xiang retained the Silver light-flyweight belt by unanimous decision against Thailand’s Suriyan Satorn. His regional achievements also included a WBO Inter-Continental light-flyweight victory over Dexter Alimento, reflecting activity across different sanctioning-body pathways.
Xiang subsequently met Jomar Caindog in August 2019 and won a twelve-round decision. The WBO’s January 2020 rankings explanation listed him as its leading minimumweight contender with a 17–4–2 record. These results trace a career moving between light flyweight and minimumweight, with the Sabillo victory a particularly important step. Regional championships and a high ranking placed him in contention, while the full world championship remained a separate objective.
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Article Tags
Jing Xiang, Boxing, Combat sports
