Philippines, 04 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Sniper aims for WBO title tonight


PhilBoxing.com




Cotabato del Sur?s Froilan (The Sniper) Saludar bids to join a growing list of Filipino world champions, including younger brother Vic, when he takes on WBO flyweight titlist Sho Kimura of Japan in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Qingdao Guosen Gymnasium in Shandong province, China, tonight.

The reigning Filipino world rulers are WBO welterweight titleholder Manny Pacquiao, IBF superflyweight king Jerwin Ancajas, WBO minimumweight champion Vic Saludar, interim WBA featherweight titlist Jhack Tepora and interim WBA bantamweight boss Reymart Gaballo.

Several Filipinos are lined up in world title fights. Former WBO minimumweight, WBO lightflyweight and IBF flyweight champion Donnie Nietes will face another Filipino Aston Palicte for the vacant WBO superflyweight crown, tentatively at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on Sept. 8. Nietes? manager Michael Aldeguer, president of ALA Boxing, said the fight could be at the Forum or on a local Pinoy Pride card in late August or September.

?HBO has shown interest to put Donnie?s fight on the third edition of the superflyweight series,? said Aldeguer. ?Discussions have started but nothing is final yet. It?s being negotiated. Hopefully, it will happen as there are concerns that are needed to be straightened out. However, we are holding on to our Pinoy Pride date.?

Another Filipino Randy Petalcorin has been cleared by the IBF to fight Nicaragua?s Felix Alvarado for the vacant lightflyweight throne which was relinquished by South Africa?s Hekkie Budler. Petalcorin?s co-managers Peter Maniatis of Australia and Jim Claude Manangquil of General Santos City are arranging to stage the bout in Melbourne in late September or early October.

Mark Anthony Barriga will also try to jump into the bandwagon when he faces Mexico?s Carlos Licona for the vacant IBF minimumweight title. Las Vegas-based international matchmaker Sean Gibbons plans to bring the fight to Manila in late September. Licona is represented by trainer Roberto Garcia who used to work with Nonito Donaire and Brian Viloria.

Donaire will take his turn to win another world title when he battles ?super? WBA bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett, tentatively in Belfast in September. The fight will be in the World Super Series involving eight contenders in a knockout format to determine the undisputed bantamweight titlist.

If Saludar beats Kimura, he will set a new record with brother Vic as the only Filipinos to reign as world champions simultaneously. Two Filipino brothers, Dodie Boy and Gerry Penalosa, were world titleholders but didn?t reign at the same time. Saludar, 29, has won his last five fights to raise his record to 28-2-1, with 19 KOs. His only losses were to McWilliams Arroyo by a knockout in Puerto Rico in 2014 and to Takuma Inoue on points in Japan in 2016. Saludar decked Inoue in the first round but was dropped in the eighth and ninth to lose a unanimous verdict.

Kimura, 29, will make the second defense of the crown he wrested from China?s Zuo Shiming on an 11th round stoppage in Shanghai last year. His record is 16-1-2, with 9 KOs. Since bowing to Shosuke Oji in his pro debut in 2013, Kimura has not lost in his next 18 fights.

Photo: WBO flyweight champion Sho Kimura (L) and challenger Vic Saludar (R) pose during Thursday's weighin.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
    , Wed, 04 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS 
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
    , Tue, 03 Mar 2026
  • “Prince” Albert Pagara Flies to Perth for WBC Australasia Title Fight
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Daye vows a dominant standout performance in WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Moncal, Mag-aso rule Legacy Run
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lavant Brownlee Earns Gold, Lorenzo Patricio Earns Silver at Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Influencer Brooklyn Barwick Disputes hometown decision for NBA Americas Featherweight title
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER WINKY WRIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Reyes Siblings New Champions in US chess tourney
    , Mon, 02 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y.
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026
  • IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.