Saludar keeps belt

Cebu - World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight champion Vic Saludar defended his belt with a convincing unanimous decision win over Japanese challenger Masataka Taniguchi in the main event of a boxing show at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan last Monday night, Feb. 25.

Saludar had a slow start but warmed up and dominated the whole fight. Judge Luis Cruz scored it 118-110, while both judges Chris Tellez and Surat Soikrachang had identical scores of 117-111.

The 28-year-old Saludar, brother of fellow pugs Froilan and Rey Saludar, improved to 19-3 with 10 knockouts, while Taniguchi, ranked No. 2 before the fight, dropped to 11-3 with seven knockouts.

Meanwhile, Japan-based Cebuano Jerry Castroverde suffered yet another defeat on Japanese soil. Castroverde was stopped by unbeaten Japanese prospect Shu Utsuki in the eighth.