Saludar edges Paradero in all-Filipino bout for WBA title

FILE PHOTO–Vic Saludar of the Philippines (C) celebrates his win over Japan’s Ryuya Yamanaka after their WBO minimumweight title boxing bout in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture on July 13, 2018. (Photo by JIJI PRESS / JIJI PRESS / AFP) / Japan OUT

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Vic Saludar edged compatriot Robert Paradero to win the WBA minimumweight title on Saturday in Biñan, Laguna.

Saludar, the former WBO titleholder, earned a split decision win after two judges had him winning 115-113 and 116-112. The other judge scored it 118-110 for Paradero.

The bout marked the first title fight on Philippine soil since the coronavirus pandemic started.

Saludar hiked his record to 21-4 with 11 knockouts while Paradero took his first loss as he slipped to 18-1, 12 KOs.

It was the 30-year-old Saludar’s first fight since his sixth-round knockout win over countryman Mike Kinaadman in Dec. 2019 in Naga City.

Paradero had also been inactive for quite a period of time with his last fight before Saludar happening nearly two years ago.

The bout was pushed back twice due to the pandemic.