Saludar halts Pumar, bags WBO crown

MANILA—Froilan “The Sniper” Saludar stopped a game Gabriel Pumar in the 10th round to win the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific flyweight title at the Island Cove Resort and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite Saturday night.

The undefeated Saludar hammered Pumar with thunderous body shots throughout but the superbly conditioned Japan-based fighter refused to buckle under the onslaught and fought back  with solid combinations of his own.

But after Pumar caught Saludar with a low blow in the 10th round, the second after a similar infraction in the fourth, an incensed Saludar went after Pumar with a flurry of vicious punches.

Pumar was helpless against the ropes and almost down when referee Danrex Tapdasan stopped the fight at 2:54 of the round.

Super featherweight Rey Labao scored a fifth round majority technical decision over Jose Ocampo in their scheduled 10-round fight.

The ring physician instructed referee Sammy Bernabe to stop the bout with Ocampo  bleeding from a cut over his right eye which the referee claimed was caused by an accidental headbutt.