Saludar faces toughest test yet to challenge Japanese champ

CEBU, Philippines – Vic "Vicious" Saludar faces what is by far the toughest challenge in his boxing journey right in his very first tour of duty under the aegis of Cebu's fabled ALA Gym as he battles defending Japanese champion Kosei Tanaka for the WBO minimumweight title today at the Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya,  Japan.

Saludar said being able to showcase his skills under the wings of the world-renowed stable means a lot to him and that he will give his best shot to hurdle what he considers the most important bout of  his fistic career and eventually become the only second world champion from ALA after Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes, the reigning WBO light flyweight king.

"Ito na po ang pinakaimportanteng fight ko sa career ko, kasi ito ang dream ko at dahilan kung bakit nag-pro ako. Gusto ko po maging world champion. Pagsisikapan ko'ng mabigyan ng karangalan ang bayan ko dahil napakalaking bagay po kung manalo ako at ma-represent ang Pilipinas at maging pangalawang world champion ng ALA Promotions," said Saludar.

Since absorbing his first and only defeat after he retired with a severe hand fracture during his bout against Powell Balaba two years ago in Cagayan de Oro City, Saludar is on an eight-fight winning roll, six of them via stoppage and the most latest was a smashing first round TKO of Indon Rizky Pratama last September 9 in his hometown Polomolok, South Cotabato.

Saludar describes his Japanese foe as 'feather-fisted,' but acknowledges that he still needs to be extra careful against Tanaka as he is surely not a world champion for nothing.

"Sa napanood kong laban sa videos niya, medyo mahina yung mga suntok nya. Sa tingin namin, wala siyang masyadong power. So doon ako magfo-focus, babanatan ko po pagkakita ko ng opening. Ang dapat ko po namang bantayan ay ang suntok n’ya na bigla-biglaan din minsan," said Saludar.

Whatever the outcome of the bout would be, Saludar is optimistic that the experience he will gain out of fighting for a world title will help him become a better fighter.

"Malaking chance po ito para sa akin. Sa career ng boxing, hindi lahat nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makipaglaban para sa isang world title. Alam ko magiging mas mabuti akong boxer pagkatapos ng experience na ito," said Saludar. (FREEMAN)