VIC SALUDAR RETURNS TO ACTION THIS SATURDAY IN NAGA, CEBU
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Dec 2019
Former world champion Vic Saludar returns to the ring this Saturday in Naga City, Cebu against favorite whipping boy Mike Kinaadman for the Asian Boxing Federation minimumweight title to headline 'Brawl in Naga I – Band of Brothers' as one of the festivities of the city's celebration of Dagitab Festival 2019.
Saludar was dethroned of his WBO minimumweight crown last August by Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico in his unsuccessful attempt to defend his title for the second time at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. He won the title against Ryura Yamanaka of Japan on July 13, 2018 and defended it once against another Japanese Masataka Taniguchi last February.
Saludar had already beaten Kinaadman twice – in August 2017 by decision and in April 2018 by knockout – but the former champion needs to sweat it out to position himself again for a world title shot. However in boxing you would never know the outcome until it's over.
In the chief support bout, former WBO Asia-Pacific female champion Casey Morton of Hawaii will go up against Saowaluk Nareepangsri of Thailand scheduled for eight rounds. Morton lost to Miyo Yoshida of Japan in her last fight for the WBO female flyweight world title.
In other featured matches, Vic Saludar's two younger brothers Jakeson and Van June, who all came for Polomolok, Cotabato, will take on separate opponents scheduled for eight rounds each.
Jakeson, 23, who turned pro only this year fighting in the minimumweight division, is undefeated in four fights winning all by knockout. He will face Jake Amparo (5-2-1, 0KOs) of Cagayan de Oro City.
Van June (5-2-2, 3KOs) will take on promising Justine Darap (8-1-0, 5KOs) of Calbayog, Samar in a super flyweight tussle.
Six more professional matches are on the undercard, below:
6 rounds
Bryan James Wild vs Jomar Blanco
April Abne vs Isagani Ilagan
Paul Cabunillas vs Gary Rojo
4 rounds
Jesriel Bonghanoy Singwancha vs Marlon Alejandro
Ian Abne vs Marvin Campo
Kiev Torregosa vs Leven Nemcuzo
Five amateur fights will open up the fisticuffs with fighters from host city Naga pitted against amateur fighters from Carcar City.
The press conference and weighin will be held on Friday starting at 11:30am at Naga's famous Boardwalk.
Tickets are being sold at PHP50 and PHP20. The event is being organized by Mayor Val Chong and the City of Naga, Naris Singwancha and Championship Boxing Development of the Philippines.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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