Body shot. Body shot. Body shot. Goodnight.
Former two-time world champion Vic "Vicious" Saludar is the new WBO International minimumweight champion after stopping fellow Filipino Richard Garde in the fifth round at The Grand Ho Tram on Saturday night.
Saludar used his reach and jab to run the fight, then went downstairs. A left to the side, two more to the body, and the referee waved it off at 2:14 of round five.
That makes it 29-6 with 19 knockouts. And for the 36-year-old, that's eight straight wins.
Now here's the thing.
Saludar is rated No. 1 by the WBO. No. 2 by the WBA.
Last week the WBO belt changed hands without a punch being thrown. Oscar Collazo vacated, and Japan's Ryusei Matsumoto was elevated to full champion.
The No. 1 contender? Out here in Vietnam, doing his job, knocking people out.
So what more does he have to do ??
Two trips to The Grand Ho Tram this year — first-round KO in August, fifth-round stoppage on Saturday.
Matsumoto v Saludar. Make it happen !!
🇵🇭 VIC SALUDAR def. RICHARD GARDE 🇵🇭
🥊 TKO 5 (2:14) | Vacant WBO International minimumweight title
📍 The Grand Ho Tram, Vietnam | 7 November 2026
Also on the card — Danylo Honcharuk 🇺🇦 forced Jeo Santisima 🇵🇭 to retire on his stool after seven rounds, and unbeaten Balihenbeke Balihenbeke kept his WBO Oriental belt with a first-round KO of Marvin Esquierdo 🇵🇭.
Congratulations Vic — and to all fighters who took part !
