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The minimumweight division has been busy lately. Less than two weeks after Deejay Kriel claimed the IBF title with a knockout of Carlos Licona, Filipino WBO champ Vic Saludar made the second defense of his WBO belt with a decision over Masataka Taniguchi in the latter’s native Tokyo.
This marks the second consecutive fight in which Saludar (19-3, 10 KO) defeated a Japanese standout on their home turf, as he took a decision over Ryuya Yamanaka in Yamanaka’s home town of Kobe to win the belt last July. Taniguchi (11-3, 7 KO) had won three straight, including two over Filipinos, since a loss to highly regarded countryman Tsubasa Koura.
The aforementioned Kriel mentioned that he wanted to unify with WBC kingpin Wanheng Menayothin, but considering the latter’s reticence to fight outside his native Thailand and Kriel’s unwillingness to fight him there, Saludar is probably his most feasible target among the other titlists. Anyone think they can put it together?