Philippines, 18 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


STORY OF PHILIPPINE BOXING PART XLVII: VIC SALUDAR, WBO WORLD MINIMUMWEIGHT CHAMPION


PhilBoxing.com




Victorio "Vic" Saludar was born November 3, 1990 in Polomolok, South Cotabato. Nicknamed "Vicious" Vic Saludar was successful as an amateur fighter. He won six times as a national amateur champion in the flyweight division.

He won a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, losing in the semifinals to Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan. Saludar has two brothers who are also into boxing. Rey Saludar won a gold medal at the 2010 Asian Games, and Froilan Saludar is a former world flyweight title challenger.

In his professional debut he floored Juanito Hundante in the very first round for a TKO at the Solaire Hotel and Casino, Pasay City on July 13, 2013.

On September 14, 2013, he knocked out Camilo Rey Seneres in the first round again for a TKO win in Iloilo City.

Saludar suffered his first loss in his third pro bout, fracturing his hand during a six-round match against journeyman Powell Balaba. He was forced to retire on the stool after four rounds, having previously dropped Balaba in the first stanza in a fight held November 23, 2013.

Saludar returned in March 2014, and won his next seven matches, against Philip Luis Cuerdo by 4th round TKO, Rey Morano by 1st round KO, Mateo Jasma by 1st round KO, Belmar Plaza by 4th round KO, JR Salvador by UD, Sherwin McDo Lungay by 1st round TKO, Lyster Jun Pronco by UD, and Michael Kaibigan by 4th round KO.

He won the vacant WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title via a very impressive first round TKO of Indonesian Rizky Pratama on September 9, 2015 before his hometown fans in Polomolok.

Saludar was unsuccessful in his first attempt at the world title challenging Kosei Tanaka for the WBO minimumweight championship. But he was knocked out in the 6th round by a powerful left hook to the body. Saludar floored Tanaka in the 6th, and had won every round on two of the three scorecards before the unexpected stoppage.

Tanaka won the WBO minimumweight title in only his fifth bout from Mexico’s Julian Yadras and set a Japanese record of winning a world boxing title in the fewest number of fights.

Saludar won his next three bouts. He successfully defended his WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title against Lito Dante by UD in General Santos City. He triumphed over Jimboy Haya to win the vacant WBO Oriental minimumweight title by UD in Cagayan de Oro City. He also avenged his loss to Powell Balaba in a rematch by UD also in CDO.

Saludar suffered his third career loss to Toto Landero, in a split decision. Landero used volume punching and aggressive style to convince two judges on June 10, 2017 in Mandaue City.

Saludar rebounded from the loss with another winning streak. He won over Mike Kinaadman by 7th round KO, Lito Dante by UD and Mike Kinaadman in a rematch by 7th round KO.

He would earn a second shot at the WBO minimumweight title against Ryuya Yamanaka on July 13, 2018 at the Central Gym in Kobe, Japan. The champion began to feel the Filipino's heavy punches in the 4th round when he moved around the ring to evade his blows.

Yamanaka became aggressive in the 6th and worked on Saludar's body. The Japanese suffered a cut over his eye, and was knocked down in the 7th round. Saludar won a unanimous decision with the scores 116-111, 117-110 and 115-112 and became a world champion. Yamanaka suffered a subdural hematoma after being hit several times during the fight and retired after the loss. It was only his second title defense.

Saludar returned to Japan where he won his world title, this time winning over Masataka Taniguchi by unanimous decision to retain the WBO minimumweight title on February 26, 2019 in Tokyo. The scores were 118-110 on one judge's card and 117-111 on the other two.

Saludar faced Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico in his next defense and lost by a unanimous decision to relinquish his WBO minimumweight title at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico on August 24, 2019.

The scores were 117-110, 115-112, and 116-111, giving Puerto Rico its only male world champion that time after several losses of its top fighters. This in spite of Saludar scoring the only knockdown of the fight in the 3rd round.

Saludar knocked out Mike Kinaadman in the 6th round to win the vacant Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) minimumweight belt in Naga City, Cebu. Saludar was surprised in the 1st round when he was downed by Kinaadman. But he recovered since then and hit his opponent with a body shot to stop him in the 6th round on December 21, 2019. It was their third encounter.

Saludar has a pro record of 20 wins, 11 by way of knockout, 4 defeats with 2 KO losses in 24 total bouts.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.