Saludar Promoter Seeks Priority Seeding As Unified WBA World Title Challenger
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 27 Jan 2022
The true promoter of just deposed WBA regular world titlist Victorio Saludar, Kenneth Ralph Rontal of Championship Boxing Development Philippines based in Mindanao has asked the WBA for priority consideration of Saludar as immediate challenger to the winner of the WBA unified world flyweight clash between Thai super champion Thamanon Niyomtrong and his recent conqueror Erick Rosa Pacheco of the Dominican Republic.
In a letter to WBA President Gilberto Mendoza, Rontal cited the controversies surrounding the fight held in Santo Domingo which led to Saludar's defeat. Rontal clarified that Gabriel Bebot Elorde stood as the Pinoy counterpart promoter of the bout as contractual option that ceased with Saludar's loss. He pointed to the all Latino panel of judges that even included a Dominican, Oscar Valdez as well as the questionable knockdown call of the referee Guillermo Perez Pineda, another Latino, in favor of Pacheco as highly instrumental in giving the home fighter the victory via 12 round split decision.
Rontal lambasted the highly partisan scoring of the Dominican judge who scored the fight by wide margin for his compatriot in contrast to the two other judges who scored it by two points either way. Title fight such as this should have been scored by all neutral panel of judges or at least, a Filipino judge should have been included to balance things out.
Had the referee not called the non existent knockdown in the 9th round in favor of Pacheco, the final score of the other affirmative judge would have been even and with the two judges turning split scores, Saludar should have kept his title via draw.
Rontal also complained that the full fight purse of Saludar was only completely remitted by the Dominican promoter two weeks after the event.
Given the highly controversial conduct and officiating of the bout, Rontal believes Saludar ought to be given the first crack at the winner between super titlist Niyomtrong and his successor as regular world champion Rosa Pacheco.
Rontal noted that Saludar is rated as number one contender per latest WBA rating. He said Saludar will see action in another highly competitive bout soon to enhance his credibility as challenger to the winner of Niyomtrong vs Rosa Pacheco.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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