FILIPINO-American Ana Julaton tries to get closer to a world title shot under the “Money Team” banner when she fights Celina Salazar Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) at Plaza de Toros in Cancun, Mexico.
Julaton (12-3-1 with 2 knockouts) tipped the scales at 123.6 pounds well within the contracted 124-lb limit while the San Antonio-based Salazar (4-1-2 with 1 KO) weighed in 122.6 at Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun.
The 10-round bout will be televised by Fox Deportes under Golden Boy Promotions, boosting speculations that the 33-year-old Julaton may land a possible slot in the Sept. 14 mega fight between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez.
The Daly City-based Julaton told CSNBayArea.com that she’s excited over the prospects considering the attention GBP is giving to women’s boxing.
Julaton added that she sees no problem with Manny Pacquiao and Filipino boxing fans if she fights in the Mayweather undercard.
If she beats Salazar, Julaton hopes to challenge world champion Mexican Yasmin Rivas for the IBF 122-lb title.
“It’s huge to finally have this buzz surrounding women’s boxing and get it to the next mainstream level,” she told the website.
Julaton trained in Las Vegas under Angelo Reyes and through the guidance of Allan Tremblay.
She is expected to lean on her vaunted left jabs to fend off the shorter Salazar. Julaton has earned a fan base in Mexico following explosive wins in Yucatan.
The Julaton-Salazar fight is co-main event of the title bout pitting reigning champ Takashi Miura and top contender Cancun-native Sergio “Yeyo” Thompson. Marc Anthony Reyes