Saludar, Diaz pass weigh-in, eye vacant ABF minimumweight throne 

Vic Saludar (left) and Francis Jay Diaz (right) engage in a staredown after passing the weigh-in for their ABF minimumweight title bout in Naga City, South Cebu. Holding the ABF belt is referee Rey Caitom. | By Glendale Rosal

CEBU CITY, Philippines— Boxing fans south of Cebu are in for a big treat as two-time world champion Vic “Vicious” Saludar and his foe, Francis Jay Diaz passed the official weigh-in on Friday, December 15.

That officially greenlights their main event tussle in the “Rumble in Naga II” fight card at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in Naga City, southern Cebu on Saturday, December 16, 2023. 

The 33-year-old Saludar, fighting in Naga City for the third time tipped the weighing scales at 106.6 pounds, while Diaz weighed in at 107.4 lbs.

At stake in Saludar and Diaz’s duel is the vacant  Asian Federation (ABF) minimumweight title which they will battle for 10 rounds in the card backed by the Naga City LGU, Winzen’s Cafe, Promix Feeds, KBDF Gaming, and well-known Thai boxing patron Naris Singwangcha. 

READ: Saludar leads fight card in Naga City on Dec. 16

“Importante kaayo ni nga dula, para maka fight ko balik ug abroad,” said Saludar, the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) world minimumweight champion. 

“Sa mga boxing fans manan-aw ugma, ipakita gyud nako ang best nga dula, dili ko mag expect matumba ang kontra kay kabalo ta nag ensayo sad ug sakto atong kontra,” Saludar said.

This will be Saludar’s fourth time to entertain boxing fans in Naga City. His three previous outings were all impressive. In 2017, Saludar defeated Lito Dante by unanimous decision in a non-title bout.

In 2019, he knocked out Mike Kinaadman to win the same title he will be vying tomorrow via a sixth round knockout. In December last year, he scored a seventh round knockout versus Ariston Aton. 

Saludar is coming from back-to-back wins against Aton and Clyde Azarcon since 2022. He has a record of 23 wins, 13 knockouts, and six defeats.

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

Meanwhile, Diaz, 25, who has an 8W-7L-1D record with one knockout will fight in Cebu for the third time. 

In his two previous outings in Cebu, he lost to ARQ Boxing Stable’s Berland Robles last August in Lapu-Lapu City and also fell to the latter’s stablemate, Ramil Macado last March in Talisay City. 

The rest of the fight card pits 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 fight card has free admission with the curtain raiser kicking off at 6:00 p.m. 

READ: IOC puts boxing ‘on hold’ for 2028 LA Olympics