WORLD-RATED fighters Vic Saludar and Lito Dante trade leathers in a grudge match tonight in the main event of ?Engkwentro sa Naga – The Rematch? at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in Naga City.
Saludar is in the cusp of another shot at a world title, being the second-ranked fighter in the minimumweight division of World Boxing Organization (WBO). He is also rated 11th in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).
The 27-year-old Saludar suffered a shocking split decision loss to fellow world-ranked Toto Landero last June in Mandaue City. He, however, got lucky and retained his lofty rankings.
Saludar bounced back from that defeat with a unanimous decision victory over Mike Kinaandaman.
Saludar once vied for a world title in 2015 and lost by a sixth-round knockout to Kosei Tanaka in a vacant WBO minimumweight title.
Dante hopes to avenge his unanimous decision defeat to Saludar last year. After that loss, the 27-year-old Dante went 3-2-1, beating the likes of prospects Jaysever Abcede and Jay Loto.
Dante is currently rated No. 15 in the World Boxing Council (WBC). Saludar is 15-3 with nine knockouts, while Dante us 14-8-4 with seven knockouts.
Froilan Saludar (26-2-1, 17 KOs), Vic?s older brother, is taking on experienced Rogen Flores (14-39-6, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder, while WBO No. 1 rated minimumweight Robert Paradero (15-0, 10 KOs) faces off with Ian Ligutan (6-9-2, 3 KOs) in another 10-round fight in the main featured bouts.
Four unbeaten Omega Boxing Gym fighters are seeing action in the undercard – Tomjune Mangubat, Mark Vicelles, Marjun Piencenaves and Cristoval Furog.
The hard-hitting Mangubat (8-0, 8 KOs) slugs it out with club fighter Jhun Ryan Quimbo (6-15-2) in an eight-rounder, Vicelles (5-0-1, 3 KOs) locks horns with Ernesto Alera (4-4-1) in a six-round bout, Piencenaves (4-0, 3 KOs) is up against Jeffrey Stella (4-4-1, 4 KOs) in another six-rounder and Furog (1-0) takes on Jeco Suico (1-1, 1 KO) in a four-round fight.
Vanjune Saludar (3-1-1, 2 KOs) squares off with Ariel Evangelista (0-1) in the other four-round bout. (EKA)
