Vic Saludar (2nd from left) poses with his opponent Toto Landero in one of his fights in Cebu in 2017. | CDN FILE PHOTO
CEBU CITY, Philippines- “Vicious” Vic Saludar emerged as the new World Boxing Association (WBA) world minimumweight champion. This after, Saludar beat Robert “Super Inggo” Paradero in an all-Filipino world title brawl in the main event of “Night of Champions XXII” in Biñan, Laguna, on Saturday.
Both Mindanaoan boxers went on toe-to-toe for 12 rounds, with the judges scoring the bout via a split decision favouring Saludar. Saludar earned the nods from judges Aquil Tamano who scored the bout at 115-113, and Danrex Tapdasan at 116-112. The other judge Alfie Jocosol favoured Paradero at 118-110.
The 30-year old Saludar, a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight world champion from Polomolok, South Cotabato, improved his record to 21 wins, four defeats with 11 knockouts. The 24-year old Paradero from Malaybalay City, Bukidnon suffered his first defeat with 18 wins and 12 knockouts.
It was a very sweet victory for Saludar, who has not fought since December 2019. Both Saludar and Paradero were inactive for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the bout’s schedule was rescheduled twice for the same reason.
The world title at stake yesterday was vacated by erstwhile champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong, who was elevated to the WBA minimumweight super world champion. Niyomtrong has defended the title since 2016.
Saludar serves as one of the four remaining Filipino boxing world champions after Senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao was stripped of his WBA super world welterweight title due to inactivity. The other remaining Filipino boxing world champions are Jerwin Ancajas (IBF world super flyweight), Johnriel Casimero (WBO world bantamweight), and Pedro Taduran (IBF world minimumweight).
The Saludar-Paradero world title showdown was held in a bubble setup and was promoted by Elorde International Promotions of Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. / rcg