Vic Saludar decisions Masataka Taniguchi, keeps crown

MANILA, Philippines — With little fanfare, Filipino Vic Saludar retained his WBO minimumweight crown with a unanimous decision over Japan’s Masataka Taniguchi Tuesday night at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Saludar, 28, faced a hostile  hometown crowd but carried a perfect gameplan into the ring to win on all three scorecards.

“I knew I had to aim for the body. I never felt in danger,” the 28-year-old Filipino told Kyodo News after the convincing win.

Saludar retained his 105-lb title and remained in the elite company of Filipino world champions led by WBA welterweight king Manny Pacquiao, WBA bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr., IBF super-fyweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas and WBO super-flyweight title-holder Donnie Nietes.

Saludar fought Taniguchi as his name was being called as one of the major awardees during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night at the Manila Hotel.

With the victory, Saludar raised his ring record to 19-3 with 10 knockouts. The Japanese, who had problems dealing with Saludar’s body shots and a steady jab, dropped to 11-3.

Saludar came into the fight knowing that Taniguchi had a penchant for beating Filipino boxers, six of them in just a span of two years.

Filipinos  beaten by Taniguchi were Joel Bactul (KO), Dexter Alimento (split decision), Vincent Bautista (unanimous decision), Benjie Bartolome (retired), Reymark Taday (technical decision) and Joel Lino (unanimous decision).

But Saludar, the shorter fighter, was not to be denied.

Last July, Saludar travelled to Kobe, Japan to score a unanimous decision over Ryuya Yamanaka and crown himself world champion.

Saludar had a great amateur career behind him. His brother, Rey Saludar, was a gold medalist in the 2010 Asian Games. Another sibling, Froilan, fought as an amateur.