Another Filipino is on a quest for a world boxing title this month.
Polomolok, South Cotabato native Froilan Saludar will try to dethrone Sho Kimura as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight champion when they collide on July 27 in Qingdao, China.
Saludar (28-1-2 win-draw-loss record with 19 knockouts) knocked out his last five opponents, earning him a shot at the Japanese pug’s belt, the first world title attempt in his career.
Kimura, on the other hand, only had one defense of the title he wrested from Zou Shiming on July 28, 2017, a technical knockout win against fellow Japanese boxer Toshiyuki Igarashi right on New Year’s Eve last year.
Since losing his pro debut, Kimura has gone unbeaten in his last 18 fights, winning his last 11.
In another championship fight, Sonny Katiangdagho takes on Baishanbo Nasiyiwula of China for the vacant WBC Asia and WBA Asia super lightweight titles.
This will be the first world title attempt for Saludar (28-2-1,19KO’s). In 2014 he lost in an IBF title eliminator to Puerto Rican McWilliams Arroyo by second round TKO in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Last month, the WBO rankings had Saludar at number four.
Kimura (16-1-2,9KO’s) has one title defense tucked under his belt against countryman Toshiyuki Igarashi last December by 9th round TKO. He made a name for himself last year in China when he dethroned Chinese Olympic hero Zou Shiming by 11th round TKO in Shanghai.
The main attraction in this card for the Chinese audience will be Xiong Chao Zhong (27-7-114KO’s) who will go for a second world title against unbeaten WBA minimumweight champion Thamanoon Niyomtrong a.k.a. Knockout CP Freshmart (17-0,7KO’s) of Thailand.
In 2012, Xiong became the first male Chinese boxer to win a professional world title when he beat Mexican Javier Martinez Resendiz for the WBC strawweight crown. He defended his title twice, including a majority decision win against Filipino Denver Cuello in Dubai before losing to another Mexican, Oswaldo Novoa.
There will be three Filipino boxers on the undercard – Sonny Katiandagho vs Baishanbo Nasiyiwula of China, Jelbirt Gomera vs Xu Can of China and Miel Fajardo vs Xiang Li of China.
There will be also be regional title bout between Wulan Tuolehazi of China and Watana Phenbaan of Thailand.
On July 13, Froilan’s brother, Vic Saludar (17-3,10KO’s) will challenge WBO world minimumweight champion Ryuya Yamanaka (16-2,5KO’s) in Kobe, Japan.
Only one pair of brothers in the Philippines have world boxing titles – Dodie Boy and Gerry Peñalosa. Dodie Boy won the IBF junior flyweight title in 1983 and the IBF flyweight crown in 1987. Gerry captured the WBC superflyweight title in 1997 and the WBO bantamweight crown in 2007.
