Saludar hands Flores first loss, snares WBA bantamweight title
MANILA, Philippines – Froilan “Sniper” Saludar can still hit the target.
The underdog Filipino banked on experience and technical savvy to stun erstwhile unbeaten Venezuelan Williams Flores via unanimous decision on Saturday, November 15, and clinch the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) international bantamweight crown at the Agenda Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Saludar, 35, sneaked in counterpunches when in the middle and deflected Flores’ solid blows when cornered, to earn the judges’ nod, 115-113, 116-112, 115-114, and climb to a 36-win (25 knockouts), 8-loss, 1-draw record.
A former world title challenger who has fought the likes of former world champions Sho Kimura and Luis Nery, Saludar showed Flores — the 25-year-old fighting on foreign soil for the first time — that boxing isn’t all about power, handing his taller and younger foe a first loss after 18 wins spiked by 13 knockouts.
Regarded as a gatekeeper after dropping six of his last 13 bouts, including an eight-round knockout loss to Japanese Kurihara in their rematch in Cebu in January, Saludar proved to Sanman Boxing Gym head JC Manangquil that he can still pull the trigger with more bullets left.
Training harder than ever, Saludar weighed 116.8 pounds, a pound lighter than the Venezuelan who was looking to add the pride of Polomolok, South Cotabato, among his victims. – Rappler.com