Sniper aims for WBO title tonight
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 27 Jul 2018
Cotabato del Sur?s Froilan (The Sniper) Saludar bids to join a growing list of Filipino world champions, including younger brother Vic, when he takes on WBO flyweight titlist Sho Kimura of Japan in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Qingdao Guosen Gymnasium in Shandong province, China, tonight.
The reigning Filipino world rulers are WBO welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao, IBF superflyweight king Jerwin Ancajas, WBO minimumweight champion Vic Saludar, interim WBA featherweight titlist Jhack Tepora and interim WBA bantamweight boss Reymart Gaballo.
Several Filipinos are lined up in world title fights. Former WBO minimumweight, WBO lightflyweight and IBF flyweight champion Donnie Nietes will face another Filipino Aston Palicte for the vacant WBO superflyweight crown, tentatively at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Sept. 8. Nietes? manager Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Boxing, said the fight could be at the Forum or on a local Pinoy Pride card in late August or September.
?HBO has shown interest to put Donnie?s fight on the third edition of the superflyweight series,? said Aldeguer. ?Discussions have started but nothing is final yet. It?s being negotiated. Hopefully, it will happen as there are concerns that are needed to be straightened out. However, we are holding on to our Pinoy Pride date.?
Another Filipino Randy Petalcorin has been cleared by the IBF to fight Nicaragua?s Felix Alvarado for the vacant lightflyweight throne which was relinquished by South Africa?s Hekkie Budler. Petalcorin?s co-managers Peter Maniatis of Australia and Jim Claude Manangquil of General Santos City are arranging to stage the bout in Melbourne in late September or early October.
Mark Anthony Barriga will also try to jump into the bandwagon when he faces Mexico?s Carlos Licona for the vacant IBF minimumweight title. Las Vegas-based international matchmaker Sean Gibbons plans to bring the fight to Manila in late September. Licona is represented by trainer Roberto Garcia who used to work with Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria.
Donaire will take his turn to win another world title when he battles ?super? WBA bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett, tentatively in Belfast in September. The fight will be in the World Super Series involving eight contenders in a knockout format to determine the undisputed bantamweight titlist.
If Saludar beats Kimura, he will set a new record with brother Vic as the only Filipinos to reign as world champions simultaneously. Two Filipino brothers, Dodie Boy and Gerry Penalosa, were world titleholders but didn?t reign at the same time. Saludar, 29, has won his last five fights to raise his record to 28-2-1, with 19 KOs. His only losses were to McWilliams Arroyo by a knockout in Puerto Rico in 2014 and to Takuma Inoue on points in Japan in 2016. Saludar decked Inoue in the first round but was dropped in the eighth and ninth to lose a unanimous verdict.
Kimura, 29, will make the second defense of the crown he wrested from China?s Zuo Shiming on an 11th round stoppage in Shanghai last year. His record is 16-1-2, with 9 KOs. Since bowing to Shosuke Oji in his pro debut in 2013, Kimura has not lost in his next 18 fights.
Photo: WBO flyweight champion Sho Kimura (L) and challenger Vic Saludar (R) pose during Thursday's weighin.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
No issues with fight ref
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Thu, 03 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 03 Jul 2025ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
Wed, 02 Jul 2025TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 02 Jul 2025What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 02 Jul 2025Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
Wed, 02 Jul 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
By Eric Armit, Tue, 01 Jul 2025IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 01 Jul 2025