Froilan Saludar claims vacant WBO Asia Pacific super fly title

MACAU—Former world title contender Froilan Saludar is off to a rousing start in his new weight class after knocking out Japanese prospect Tsubasa Murachi for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight title Sunday at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Saludar (31-3-1) stopped the 22-year-old Murachi (4-1), who fought in his first title bout, 54 seconds into the eighth round.

After a slow start in the first round, Saludar picked up the pace and sent Murachi to the canvas in the seventh and eighth rounds before the referee stopped the bout.

This was Saludar’s first fight in the 115-lb division and he has since moved on from a sixth-

round knockout loss to Sho Kimura in July 2018.

Saludar, who scored his 22nd knockout, has now won three in a row.