VIC Saludar, once failed to win the WBO world minimumweight title when he lost Kosei Tanaka via sixth-round knockout in December of 2015.
However, the Polomolok, South Cotabato-native puncher is once again ready to take another shot for the world title probably within the year.
But in order to achieve that, he has to be active and keep his no.2 rating.
And on June 10, the Championship Boxing Development Philippines under the stewardship of Kenneth Rontal is bringing Saludar (14-2, 9KOs) to Cebu, to headline the ?Engkwentro Dinhi sa Mandaue: Visayas vs. Mindanao? Boxing spectacle against Omega Pro?s Toto Landero(8-1-2, 2KOs) in a 10-round non-title bout in Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
?Vic Saludar is ranked No.2 by the WBO and with the announcement of (Tatsuya) Fukuhara, he could be a mandatory challenger to the new world champion. And that could be within the year,? WBO vice president for Asia and Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr. said at the launching of the event yesterday.
The Japanese champion Fukuhara announced his retirement recently.
In the undercard, the 18-year old sensation and undefeated Vince Paras (10-0, 9KOs) from Gen. Santos City will fight Omega?s Jimboy Haya (10-3-2, 6KOs) for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth Light Flyweight belt.
Rontal assured the Cebuanos that this card will be worth their time. He usually holds his promotions in Mindanao will do this card for the first time in Cebu.
?This is my 10th promotion. But most of the time, I do it (promotions) in Mindanao). We started four years ago. And I usually promote boxing in Northern Mindanao. I have also done promotions in Polomolok and in Iligan City. Now we try to venture our event here in Cebu City and try to bring excitement here. We all have good fights and the three main events (fighters) have credible experience and record,? Rontal said.
On the other hand, both Paras, who has never gone past the sixth round, and Haya promised to give their all to entertain the Cebuanos.
The card will also feature Froilan Saludar (24-2-1, 15KOs) against Salatiel Amit (10-2-2, 7KOs) for 10 rounds in the flyweight division, and the undefeated WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight champion Roberto Paradeo (13-0, 8KOs) against the veteran Fabio Marfa (25-33-4, 12KOs) in a 10-round match.
The card will also present a special women?s boxing bout undefeated between Hawaiian beauty Casey Morton against Thai Phallanuk Kongsang.
