Saludar gains semis; Tipon, Lopez ousted

INCHEON, South Korea— Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar bested Waseem Muhammad of Pakistan, 26-20, to barge into the semifinal round of the Asian Men’s Boxing Championships at the Dowion Sports Arena.

The 22-year-old Saludar, who also beat Muhammad, 15-12, at the China Open last June, emerged as the lone Filipino standing following the exit of Joan Tipon and Wilfredo Lopez Monday night at the Dowon Sports Arena.

Tipon yielded to wily Korean Lee Jin-young, 5-10, while Lopez bowed to China’s Qion Maimaitue, 18-21.