MICHAEL ORTEGA TAKES OVER AS REFEREE IN WBO TITLE FIGHT BETWEEN CHAMPION KOSEI TANAKA AND FILIPINO CHALLENGER VIC SALUDAR
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Dec 2015
At the request of the promoter of the WBO minimumweight title fight between champion Kosei Tanaka of Japan and Vic Saludar of the Philippines, WBO president Francisco ?Paco? Valcarcel has assigned Michael Ortega to take over from originally assigned female referee Sparkle Lee.
WBO Asia Pacific head Leon Panoncillo informed the New Standard/boxingmirror.com that ?the change was at the request of the promoter to utilize the officials already there (in Japan) on other world title fights.?
The Tanaka-Saludar championship bout will take place in Nagoya on New Year?s eve.
In fact Ortega had earlier been appointed third man in the ring for the WBO super flyweight title defense of Naoya Inoue against Filipino challenger Warlito Parrenas in Tokyo on December 29.
Referee Ortega was in Manila in May 2012 and handled the WBO flyweight title bout in which Brian Viloria scored a 9th round TKO over Omar Nino Romero at the Ynares Center in Pasig City.
He also served as referee in the middleweight title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Geale and has done a number of big fights.
Ortega who is from Connecticut is the son of the late 1950?s early 1960?s welterweight contender Gaspar Ortega.
Photo: Referee Michael Ortega (L) with Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025