Another Filipino will be crowned world champion when Victorio Saludar and Robert Paradero dispute the vacant World Boxing Association minimumweight crown on Saturday, February 20, at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Paradero totes a better record (18-0, 12 knockouts) but Saludar (20-4, 11 knockouts) is more experienced, making up for a thrilling title battle.
Both Paradero, from Malaybalay, Bukidnon, and Saludar, from Polomolok, South Cotabato, have trained long and hard for the twice stalled 12-rounder being staged by Elorde International Promotions.
No wonder, they easily made weight on Friday, with Paradero checking in at 104.4 pounds and Saludar tipping the scales at 104.5.
At 24, Paradero is 6 years younger than Saludar, who, however, is 2 inches taller at 5-foot-3 and has a 2-inch reach advantage as well.
Having stopped 4 of his last 5 opponents, Paradero is expected to come out swinging, going for an early knockout, while Saludar waits to find his range and unload the perfect counterpunch.
In his last fight on December 21, 2019, Saludar scored a sixth-round knockout over journeyman Mike Kinaadman.
This will be Paradero’s first fight outside of Visayas and Mindanao, while Saludar had several foreign stints as a member of the Philippine team and as a pro since 2013.
The winner between Saludar and Paradero will join Jerwin Ancajas (IBF super flyweight), Johnriel Casimero (WBO bantamweight) and Pedro Taduran (IBF minimumweight) as Filipino world champions. Manny Pacquiao was recently designated as welterweight “champion in recess” by the WBA.
Unbeaten prospect Carl Jammes Martin tangles with Joe Tejones in the chief support.
Martin (16-0, 14 knockouts) weighed in at an exact 122 pounds, while Tejones (13-7, 7 knockouts) came in 3 pounds over at 125.
Team Martin, however, agreed to continue with the fight.
According to promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, the Saludar-Paradero and Martin-Tejones bouts will be shown on YouTube and Facebook live and will be aired by PTV 4 on Sunday. – Rappler.com
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