Victorio Saludar showed cunning and experience in the closing rounds to prevail over Robert Paradero and capture the vacant World Boxing Association minimumweight crown on Saturday, February 20 at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Having dominated the 7th to the 9th rounds, Paradero got complacent and threw fewer punches the rest of the bout, enabling Saludar to win by split decision and become world champion again.
Atty. Aquil Tamayo’s score was announced first with Saludar on top, 115-113, but judge Alfie Jocosol saw Paradero the runaway winner, 118-110, to knot the count and send Paradero into a premature celebration.
Atty. Danrex Tapdasan, the third judge, however, sided with Saludar, 116-112, leaving Paradero momentarily stunned in surprise.
The 30-year-old Saludar, the former World Boxing Organization champion, climbed to 21-4 with 11 knockouts while handing Paradero, 25, his first loss after 18 wins with 12 knockouts.
Paradero was truly the busier fighter, even rocking Saludar with a solid left to the jaw in the 4th round.
As in the first two rounds, Saludar controlled the 5th and 6th rounds with his efficient counters against Paradero, who swung wild punches at times.
Thinking he’s leading going to the 10th, Paradero, who hasn’t fought outside the country, resorted to moving around, doing some showboating while lessening his punch output.
Saludar, a veteran of foreign wars as a former national team member and 8 years as a pro, pounced on the opportunity by flicking jabs, especially in the 11th round.
Though Saludar and Paradero traded blows in combos many times, neither boxer was in danger of getting knocked out in the first all-Filipino title fight in the pandemic era staged by Elorde International Productions of Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde.
Prime prospect Carl Jammes Martin flaunted his power in his debut at super bantam by knocking out Joe Tejones in the chief support of the fight card held behind closed doors.
All Martin needed was a right hook to the body of Tejones at the 1:48 mark of the 5th round to stretch his unbeaten run to 17, 15 by knockouts. Tejones tumbled to 13-8 with 7 knockouts.
The aborted 10-rounder was supposed to be at 122 pounds, but Tejones checked in 3 pounds over on Friday and Martin agreed to tangle with him at 125 instead. – Rappler.com
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