Saludar ready for Sept 21 showdown vs. Tirado
Filipino World Boxing Organization youth flyweight champion Froilan “The Sniper” Saludar and Mexican 112-pound titlist Jose Alfredo “Galletas” Tirado slug it out Friday for the vacant WBO Interim Oriental flyweight crown headlining the 62-round Shape Up Boxing Promotions card at the newly-refurbished Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The 23-year-old Saludar, a former amateur standout from Polomok, South Cotabato, will also be staking his immaculate 15-0 win-loss record highlighted by 11 knockouts against the 32-year-old veteran from Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico in their 12-round showdown in the main dish of what is expected a slambang offering put up by Baguio City businessman-sportsman Anson Tiu Co.
Both Saludar and Tirado tipped the scale in identical 112-pound during yesterday’s official weight-in supervised by the Games and amusements Board at the Astrodome.
“Ready na po. I have prepared hard and long for this fight at maganda ang kondisyon ko,” Saludar said after the weigh-in. “Napag-aralan ko na po ang kilos ng kalaban at tingin ko kaya naman.”
Tirado who brings with him a vast experience having fought 57 times, winning 27, 19 of them by KO, and losing 11 when he battles his much younger Filipino opponent.
“I did not come here just to lose,” Tirado, for his part said with confidence, adding though he’s impressed with Saludar’s unbeaten record. “He’s very young and I expect a good fight.”
The “Kamao: Kidlat At Maso” event is being supported by Pasay City Mayor Antonino “:Toni” Calixto, Tobi, Cooyeesan Hotel of Baguio, Cherrylume, Sumo G.I. Sheets, Omico, GMA News, Boysen, MBC, Philpost, AC Harris, SMFI, Heritage Hotel, Victor, SM Tickets, SM Cinema, Jordan Farms, MNTC, JJS, Creative D’Vision, Digipost and Metapixel.
Bacolod City pride Mark Jason Melligen goes up against Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat of Ubon Rachathani, Thailand in a 10-round bantamweight fight in the supporting main event.
Jerwin Ancajas of Panabu City in Davao del Norte tests the mettle of Miguel Tamayo, also of Mexico in the other 10-rounder featuring two super-bantamweight protagonists.
An eight-round scrap between up-coming mini-flyweight campaigners Jessie Espina and Ronelle Ferreras, a apair of six-rounders and a four-rounder complete the 62-round card.
Larry Abarra and Macrea Gandionco, both of the Shape Up boxing stable of Tiu Co, battle Danilo Gabisay and Arnold Garde, respectively in six round, while Jonathan dela Cruz, another Tiu Co fighter, takes on Dominador Mantes in the four-round curtain raiser that starts the card at 6 p.m.
By: Eddie Alines