FORMER world title challenger Froilan Saludar defends his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific super flyweight belt on Feb. 14, 2020, against Japanese knockout artist Ryoji Fukunaga at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The 30-year-old Saludar is looking for his fourth straight win since suffering a sixth round knockout loss to Sho Kimura in a WBO super flyweight world championship fight on July 27, 2018, in China. This is his first title defense of the regional title he won with an eighth round technical knockout of Japanese prospect Tsubasa Murachi on Sept. 21, 2019, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The 33-year-old Fukunaga is coming off a first round technical knockout of Kittipong Jareonroy in his only fight in 2019. He had an awful campaign in 2018, losing both of his fights against Jakkrawut Majoogoen and Yuta Matsuo by unanimous decision and split decision, respectively.
Saludar is working his way back up the super flyweight ladder for a future world title shot, and a win over Fukunaga should be beneficial.
He’s currently rated No. 9 in the WBO, wherein Japanese Kazuto Ioka is the current titleholder. (EKA)
