Vic Saludar

Saludar made his professional debut against Juanito Hundante on July 13, 2013, and won the fight by a first-round technical knockout. He amassed an 11-1 record during the next two years, most notably defeating Rizky Pratama by a first-round technical knockout to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title.[2]

Saludar was scheduled to challenge the reigning WBO mini flyweight champion Ryuya Yamanaka, in the latter's second title defense. The fight was scheduled for July 13, 2018, to be contested at the Central Gym in Kobe, Japan.[3] Saludar was at the time the #3 ranked WBO mini flyweight contender.[4] He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 116-111, 117-110 and 115-112. Saludar knocked Yamanaka with a straight right in the seventh round and had, by the end of the bout, opened a cut above Yamanaka's left eye.[5]

Saludar made his first WBO mini flyweight title defense against Masataka Taniguchi on February 26, 2019, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[6] He won the fight by a wide unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 117-111 in his favor, while the third judge awarded him a 118-110 scorecard.[7]

Saludar made his second WBO title defense against Wilfredo Méndez on August 24, 2019, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico.[8] Saludar was seen as the favorite to retain the title when the bout was first scheduled.[9] Saludar entered the bout without his usual cornermen, as his coach Jojo Palacios was unable to secure a working visa, while his manager Kenneth Rondal was forced to stay in the Philippines due to his father's recent brain surgery.[10] Mendez won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 117-110, 115-112, 116-111.[11]

Saludar was scheduled to face Mike Kinaadman in his first post-title fight, which was scheduled for December 21, 2019, and was held at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in Naga, Philippines. He suffered a flash knockdown in the first round, but quickly rebounded to stop Kinaadman by knockout in the sixth round.[12]

Saludar was scheduled to face Robert Paradero for the vacant WBA Regular mini-flyweight title on February 19, 2021, at the Biñan Football Stadium in Biñan, Philippines.[13] The fight was originally planned for September 26, 2020, in Manila, but was eventually pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Saludar won the fight by split decision, with two judges awarding Saludar 115-113 and 116-112 scorecards, while the third judge score the bout 118-110 for Paradero.[15]

On August 30, 2021, the WBA ordered Saludar to face the number 1 ranked mini flyweight contender Erick Rosa in a mandatory title fight. The two of them were given 30 days to negotiate the terms of the bout, before it would head to a purse bid.[16] They came to terms on September 9, and announced the fight for December 9, 2021, to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.[17] The fight was later postponed for December 21, 2021[18] Saludar lost the fight by split decision, with scores of 109-116, 112-113 and 113-112.[19]