The Philippines has a new world boxing champion. Vic Saludar dethroned Ryuya Yamanaka of Japan by unanimous decision after twelve rounds in Kobe,Japan Friday night and captured the WBO minimumweight world crown.
This was the second world title attempt for Saludar who faltered in 2015 against then champion Kosei Tanaka, also from Japan.
The three judges scored as follows ? Daniel Sandoval (USA) ? 115-113, Carlos Ortiz,Jr (USA)- 116-111 and Pinit Prayadsab (Thailand) ? 117-110.
Two of the three judges had the fight even at the half way mark but Saludar pulled away when he knocked down the Japanese in the seventh round.
Saludar is now 18W-3L,10KO?s, Yamanaka drops to 16W-3L,5KO?s. The Kobe Central Gym fight card was promoted by Masato Yamashita of Shinsei Promotions.
The 27 year old Saludar is based in Cagayan de Oro City, had a successful amateur career with the Philippine national team, winning medals at the national and international level.
He won a bronze medal at the same 2010 Asian Games where his brother Rey won the gold in the flyweight category. Vic was in a talented light flyweight division that had future professional world champs Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand and Zou Shiming of China.?He is now the third to win a professional world crown in that light flyweight class of 2010.
Vic?s brother, Froilan Saludar, will be chasing his own share of glory this July 27 in Qingdao, China when he challenges the tough WBO flyweight champion Sho Kimura of Japan. This will mark the first time in Philippine boxing history that two brothers fought for world titles on the same month.
Photo: Newly crowned world champion Vic Saludar with his promote Kenneh Rontal in Japan.
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