By Nick Giongco
There’s a new Filipino world boxing champion.
Vic Saludar upset Ryuya Yamanaka on a unanimous decision in their World Boxing Organization minimumweight title fight Friday night in Kobe, Japan.
Saludar (18-3 with 10 KOs) decked Yamanaka in the seventh round at Kobe Central Gym after a sluggish first couple of rounds en route to earning scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 117-110.
The judges include Daniel Sandoval, Carlos Ortiz Jr. and Pinit Prayadsab.
But Saludar, 27, bounced back in the next rounds en route to sending Yamanaka, 23, to the floor with a right straight to the head that was set up by a left jab in the final minute of the round.
Saludar’s victory made him the country’s second world champion after Jerwin Ancajas, the International Boxing Federation super-fly ruler.
This Sunday in Malaysia, Manny Pacquiao will attempt to dethrone Lucas Matthysse as World Boxing Association welter king.
