Paulo Salud and His POWer Punches
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 07 Aug 2025
He does not need gloves to step into the fight. All he needs are a mic, a camera, a calm voice, and the good sense to know when to let others speak. Paulo Salud may not throw punches, but he is right there in the thick of it. He talks to champions and mortals alike, telling the kinds of stories that usually go unheard.
Some call him a vlogger. Others say ring announcer. I prefer to think of him as a reporter. That word still carries weight for people who care about truth, fairness, and remembrance.
(L-R) Sir Antonio Lopez Aldeguer and Paulo Salud (March 23, 2024)
At the March 23, 2024 Gala of Champions at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel, Paulo did not arrive with fanfare or press tags. He showed up the way he always does. Quiet. Grounded. Ready. I believe he may have first heard about our humble event through either Jun Aquino or the late Chino Trinidad, both of whom we hold in high regard. I hope it is not too late to say that it was an honor to have met him. We will be forever grateful that he graced our occasion.
That afternoon, he crossed paths with some heavy hitters of Philippine boxing. Antonio Lopez Aldeguer. Luisito Lindol Espinosa. Sir Dong Secuya. These were not just names. They are part of the foundation and history of Pinoy boxing. PILLARS. And Paulo did not chase them for a sound bite or photo op, though it ended up that way. He stood among them like he belonged, because he does.
(L-R) One Aspiring Writer and Paulo Salud.
His friends at the Philippine Boxing Historical Society and Hall of Fame humbly gave him a small memento. Just something sincere. Unplanned. He accepted it with quiet grace. That said enough.
Through Powcast, Paulo built a space where stories are handled with care. He has talked to champions like WBC minimumweight titleholder Melvin Jerusalem, but he also makes room for fighters on the rise. Even unlicensed brawlers like Boy Bagsik, who fights for far more than prize money. It does not matter where the interview happens. Press room. Gym wall. Parking lot. Paulo shows up the same way every time. Steady. Open. Fully present.
(L-R) Luisito “Lindol” Espinosa and Paulo Salud.
The integrity and rhythm is what makes him stand out. Resolute. Consistent. Unshaken. He is building trust. And in today’s noisy space, that still counts for something. He has caught flak from badgers and haters. That comes with the territory. Some will always try to bait or dismiss people doing honest work. But Paulo does not swing low just to prove a point. He knows the real fight is not down in the comments. It is up here, where dignity still holds ground. Perhaps that is why he stood out so clearly that day. He did not just cover the event. He became part of it, and one of us …keepers of stories.
Artwork by Jun Aquino (July 19, 2025)
In a sport often trimmed down to knockouts and quick takes, Paulo reminds what is easy to forget. Behind every fighter is a reason. A path. A fight that started long before the crowd showed up. He honors the space between the rounds. The quiet stretch in the corner. That is where character, not content, reveals itself.
So here is to Paulo Salud and his POWer punches. Not the kind that bruises, but also the kind that stays with you, one does not necessarily draw blood. And in this corner of the boxing world, that kind of work still earns a standing eight and a round of applause.
Author’s Note
Paulo Salud has interviewed boxers and sports personalities across broad spectrums, often appearing ringside, backstage, or in gyms with little more than a phone, tripod, and trademark calm. Through his platform Powcast Sports, he has given voice to fighters like Melvin Jerusalem, Pedro Taduran, colorful personalities like SilverVoice, and butangeros like former multi-weight division champion John Riel Casimero and street fighter Boy Bagsik, and many others who might otherwise be overlooked.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.
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