R?os vs Salguero on Thursday; Winner Will Challenge World Champion Johnriel Casimero
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Oct 2012
Casimero's mandatory challenger will soon to be known. Panama's Luis Alberto R?os (LEFT) and Felipe Salguero of M?xico will clash in 12-round world title eliminator fight to select the mandatory challenger of Filipino IBF Jr. Flyweight World Champion Johnriel Casimero.
The R?os-Salguero match has been ordered by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and will take place this Thursday (Oct 25) at the Roberto Duran Arena in Ciudad de Panam?. The victorious one will face Casimero likely in March.
With this development, Casimero's promoter Sammy Gelo-Ani of Cebu, Philippines commented to this author:
"Obviously, we are paying attention to the Rios-Salguero fight as the winner will be the challenger of our World Champion Johnriel Casimero. Good luck to R?os and Salguero and the best man win. Casimero will be ready for the winner."
The IBF Officials will be Referee Ernie Sharif of the Three Rivers City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Judges Alejandro L?pez of M?xico, Oldemar Soto of Panama and Troyce Stamey of North Carolina, USA. Fight supervisor is IBF President Daryl J. Peoples of New Jersey, USA.
Rios and Salguero have already passed the medical check-up performed by doctors of the Comisi?n de Boxeo Profesional de Panam? at the Panam? Hilton Hotel.
The doctor's report states that both fighters are in good form, having the Mexican Salguero a great blood pressure of de 120/60, pulse of 62 BPM and weighted 114 lbs (not official weight).
While minutes later the Panamanian Luis "Pan Blanco" R?os, who has knocked out his last 6 opponents, weighed 111 lbs (not official weight) with a pulse of 60 BPM and and a fantastic blood pressure of 110/60.
Both fighters now focus on their next appointment, the scale.
The IBF official weigh-in ceremony, in which the fighters are required to make no more the limit of the category of 108 lbs or 49 kilos, is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday Oct 24) at 4pm at Fantastic Casino in El Dorado Mall along Tumba Muerto Avenue in Ciudad de Panam?.
FIGHTERS BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The 22 year-old Luis Alberto R?os (17-1-1, 12KO's), rated IBF's #3, is the highest ranked fighter in the IBF light flyweight division, while the warrior of Toluca M?xico, Felipe Salguero (16-3-1, 11KO's), holds the IBF #5 slot, which is the third highest ranked boxer in the division.
In his last battle, the tough Mexican Felipe Salguero fought well against crafty veteran WBO light flyweight world champion Donnie Nietes (30-1-3, 16KO's) in a 12-round world title combat in Niete's homecountry of the Philippines.
It was a tangle in which young Salguero exhibited determination and good skills in a foreign land, leaving a good impression among local fans. (Take a look at some photos of Salguero battling Nietes taken by this author last June in the Philippines)
Meanwhile, Luis Alberto "Pan Blanco" R?os of Panama, the reigning WBC Latino champion, gets into his match with Salguero after knocking out Luis Carrillo of Colombia.
It was a sweet victory for "Pan Blanco" R?os as it was this very same tough Colombian Carrillo who took his unblemished record two years ago at the Roberto Dur?n Arena.
During that first combat with Carrillo, "Pan Blanco" R?os suffered a bad shoulder injury that precipitated his lost by technical KO. As a result, Rios had to undergo surgery.
Plus, one full year of medical supervised rehab was needed for Luis Alberto to get back in the sport he loves and regain confidence. Now R?os is back in ring and ready to fight Salguero in which will undoubtedly be the most important fight of his life: a direct ticket to fight for a world title.
But Salguero already had that ticket. The Mexican had his shot at a world title and didn't make it.
So it seems that now Rios who wants for himself to the privilege of battling a champion. His match with Felipe Salguero will be a battle of talent and skills, as well as a classic match of the speedster/puncher Rios versus the tough coming forward fighter Salguero.
Rios posses an effective jab, moves well and has power in his blows, while Salguero, who prefers close combat, has good defense from incoming attacks. He did it displayed a superb defense against Nietes just last June.
In addition, the Mexican throw good uppercuts and left hooks (see photos), but lacks accuracy and timing. In his fight against world champion Nietes, Salguero missed a frustrating number of power blows aimed at the World champion.
Nietes was somewhat effective at evading attacks, but above all, it was Salguero's off timing the main reason for his lost by points that June night.
Should Salguero has a more sharp shooting against Rios, the Mexican might emerge victorious. Of course, that remains to be seen.
However, both young warriors's high percentage of wins by KO, suggests that the affair will not reach the scheduled 12 rounds.
Will Felipe Salguero knock out Luis Alberto Rios, or will it be the other way around? Fans and IBF champ Casimero will soon enough find out.
Futhermore, there is only one common opponent that the Mexican and the Panamanian have faced: Carlos "Shanghai" Melo.
Rios fought Melo first. In fact, fought him two times, going the distance with the elusive Melo. Then, it was Salguero's turn at bat. The Mexican knocked out Melo in five rounds.
These results point that the idea that Luis Alberto Rios seems to have certain trouble with fighters who move and box acceptably well, such as Melo.
But on the other hand, Salguero did not have any trouble handling Melo's quick hands moves. And also had no trouble during 12 rounds reading the attacks from the very smart fighter Donnie Nietes. Plus, Salguero was never in any trouble trouble nor staggered by Nietes, one of the world's best 108 pounders. That says it all.
The other world's top 108 fighter are Rom?n "Chocolatito" Gonz?lez of Nicaragua and Adr?an "El Confessor" Hern?ndez (25-2-1, 16KO's) of M?xico.
Fans interested in watching the Rios-Salguero IBF eliminator combat should link into the free live stream of Panama's sport channel TV Max. Exact time of combat is October 25 at 9pm (Panama Time).
The Salguero-Rios fight bill as "Objetivo en Mira" (Target in Sight) is a production of Promociones y Eventos del Istmo of Rogelio Espi?o (Panama's Promoter of the Year) in association with TV Max Channel 9.
Photos of Nietes-Salguero fight.
L-R: The author, former champion Sonny Jaro and Salguero.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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