Saludar leads fight card in Naga City on Dec. 16

Vic Saludar. | Photo from Tapology

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former world champion Vic “Vicious” Saludar will entertain Cebuano boxing fans in the City of Naga, south Cebu anew on December 16, 2023 at the Enan Chiong Enan Chiong Activity Center.

This as Saludar, the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) world minimumweight champion will spearhead a fight card slated on December 16, 2023.

READ: Saludar stuns Japanese foe in 1st round TKO win to bag OPBF title

Saludar eyes to reclaim ABF minimumweight title

The 33-year-old Saludar the pride of Polomolok, South Cotabato will take on fellow Mindanaoan Francis Jay Diaz of Cagayan de Oro City. 

Saludar eyes to reclaim the Asian Federation (ABF) minimumweight title for 10 rounds in the main event of the said fight card. Last year, Saludar put on an impressive seventh round knockout victory against Ariston Aton at the same venue in the Enan Chiong Enan Chiong Activity Center.

READ: Christian Balunan and Reymart Tagacanao: Villamor Boxing Gym’s standouts

Wins, losses of Saludar

Incidentally, Saludar won the ABF minimumweight title for the first time in the same venue in 2019. He knocked out Mike Kinaadman in the sixth round to win the then vacant ABF minimumweight title. 

After that, Saludar defeated fellow Filipino Robert Paradero to become the WBA world minimumweight champion in 2021, but lost it to Erick Sosa in the Dominican Republic via a split decision in the same year. Saludar went on to lose against Oscar Collazo in 2022. 

Still, Saludar bounced back with back-to-back wins against fellow Filipinos in Ariston Aton and Clyde Azarcon to improve his record to 23 wins with 13 knockouts and six defeats. 

His win over Aton happened at the Enan Chiong Enan Chiong Activity Center in December 21 last year. 

READ: Cataraja unfazed, maintains discipline amid fight postponement 

Diaz and rest of fight card

Meanwhile, Diaz (8W-7L-1D, 1KO), 25, eyes to end his six-fight losing streak. Diaz is best remembered to fight in the undercard of ARQ Sports’ “Engkwentro” Boxing Series at the Hoops Dome Lapu-Lapu City. He fought and lost to ARQ Boxing Stable’s Berland Robles via a third round stoppage. 

Diaz hasn’t won a single fight since 2019. 

On the other hand, the rest of the fight card will pit Sherwin Dacullo versus Reynald Ewican, Jovany Tagusi vs. Venjie Patac, Rafie Jamero vs. Marc Gomez, Dennis Gaviola vs. Johnrey Labajo, and Venjohn Yagahon vs. Kier Torregosa. 

The official weigh-in for Saturday’s fight card is slated tomorrow, Friday, December 15, at the City of Naga boardwalk.