Once thought of a bit of a journeyman after tasting defeat ten times after twelve years as a professional, it?s still hard to grasp the fact that Sonora, Mexico?s Orlando Salido is currently enjoying his best run as a professional.
Salido pulled off one of 2011?s biggest upsets when he stormed into Bayamon, Puerto Rico and upset local hero Juan Manuel Lopez with a stirring 8th round TKO that netted him the WBO featherweight crown. Looked at as a fluke by some, Salido proved himself to be the real deal earlier this month when he again throttled Lopez, this time for a 10th round stoppage victory, in a rematch that exceeded its predecessor.
After the fight, a slightly disoriented and obviously distraught Lopez, who was rocked hard and dropped in the tenth round before seeing referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. wave the fight off, offered up some puzzling comments. Instead of giving Salido full credit, he instead blasted the WBO commission for their selection of Ramirez as a ref, hinting that he had a gambling habit that obviously affected his actions during the contest.
Appearing recently on The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene.com?s official audio program, Salido admits he wasn?t able to fathom why Lopez would make such claims.
?I heard his comments when I watched the fight on television and his comments appeared to be stupid in my opinion in saying the referee was a gambler,? stated Lopez to Luis Sandoval. ?He was in the wrong with all that. The referee did a good job. He stopped the fight when it needed to be stopped. If he would?ve let it continue I could?ve hurt [Lopez] pretty bad.?
Salido appeared to be in command throughout his fever-pitched battle with Lopez but it?s interesting to note that two of the judges, Michael Pernik and Cesar Ramos, had him losing at the time of the stoppage by two 86-84 scores.
Again, Salido showed his bemusement.
?Yes, I was very surprised as their scores,? continued Salido. ?I thought ?What fight were they watching??. The whole world saw I was winning so I don?t know how they had those scores.?
Salido is one of the strongest featherweights in the division and after fourteen years of fighting at or above 126 pounds, a move up in weight would be intriguing. But for the moment, Salido is content to stay put.
?I make weight without any trouble or killing myself,? stated Salido. ?I want to make some defenses of my title and then we?ll think about moving up to 130 pounds. I feel good. It?s the best stage of my career. I don?t feel hurt or that I?m finished. I think I still have several years left to keep fighting.?
