STORY OF PHILIPPINE BOXING PART XVI: ERBITO SALAVARRIA, THE WBA, WBC AND LINEAL WORLD FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 18 Apr 2020
Erbito Salavarria.
Erbito Salavarria was the WBC, WBA and lineal flyweight champion of the world. He won the WBC and lineal title in 1970 and the WBA title in 1975.
The concept of a lineal champion was developed by boxing fans dissatisfied with the propensity of the different sanctioning bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, etc.) to recognize different champions, and to strip a champion of his title for declining to fight its number one contender. Many boxing experts regard the lineal championship with a more prestigious status.
Salavarria was born January 20, 1946, now 74 years old, in Santa Cruz, Manila and made his professional debut in June 15, 1963 winning against Johnny Bulawan on points decision.
He went to win seven straight fights and then a draw to lose to Bulawan by split decision in a rematch in October 28, 1964.
Salavarria faced Ric Magramo for the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Philippine flyweight championship in November 18, 1966 but lost by a unanimous decision.
He wrested the GAB Philippine flyweight title from Magramo in a rematch in May 13, 1967 by split decision. In October 14, 1967, he lost the title again to Magramo during their third match by split decision.
He regained the Philippine flyweight title in a fourth encounter with Magramo in August 17, 1968 by majority decision.
Salavarria upgraded his boxing achievement by winning the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight title by a 12 round TKO of Tsuyoshi Nakamura of Japan in November 19 1969 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
He captured the WBC and lineal flyweight title with an upset second round TKO win over the greatly favored Chartchai Chionoi in December 7, 1970. The Thai opponent was floored three times before the fight was stopped.
In April 30, 1971 Salavarria defended his WBC title against Japanese Suumo Hanagata winning by a 15 round unanimous decision.
He lost the WBC title after being stripped following a split draw against Venezuelan Betulio González in November 20, 1971. He allegedly used amphetamines during the bout.
In February 9, 1973, Salavarria lost in his bid to regain the WBC title to the popular Thai southpaw Venice Borkhorsor. The unanimous decision was controversial since all two judges and referee who scored the fight were all from Thailand and the fight was held in Bangkok.
In April 1, 1975, Salavarria captured the WBA flyweight title with a split decision win over his previous foe Susumu Hanagata in Toyama, Japan. The American referee and Filipino judge scored 71-68 for Salavarria while the Japanese judge favored Hanagata 73-69.
He lost the belt in his first defense to Alfonso Lopez in February 27, 1976 by a 15th round TKO. It was his second loss to Lopez who defeated him in June 29, 1974 by unanimous decision in a non-title fight.
He retired in December 3, 1978 after a comeback loss to Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh by 4th round KO in Bangkok, Thailand.
Salavarria is one of six Filipino global title holders to win the world lineal flyweight championhip, second to the illustrious Pancho Villa. The other lineal flyweight champions are Frank Cedeno, Manny Pacquiao, Malcolm Tunacao and Sonny Boy Jaro.
Three other Filipino fighters are considered world lineal champions. They are bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa, super-featherweight champion Ben Villaflor and junior lightweight champion Flash Elorde.
Salavarria has a pro career of 54 fights, 40 victories, 11 by KO, 11 losses with 3 KO defeats, and 3 draws.
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