PROMISING light flyweight Esneth Domingo is helping out former world champion Vic Saludar for his upcoming world championship fight by working as his main sparring partner.
“I’m helping out Vic. I was invited by Vic’s manager to come here,” Domingo told SunStar Cebu.
The 21-year-old Domingo was training at home in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat before he was tapped by Saludar’s camp for sparring. He arrived at Saludar’s camp just last week at the Laurente Gym in General Santos City.
Saludar is deep in preparation for an all-Filipino world championship fight against Robert Paradero for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight belt in December.
“For me, Vic has a huge advantage over Paradero. He’s very experienced and fights like a veteran. He also has power,” said Domingo, who has already logged in some rounds with Saludar.
Saludar is currently ranked No. 4 in the WBA, while Paradero is No. 5.
The 29-year-old Saludar won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight belt after a unanimous decision over Ryuya Yamanaka in 2018. After successfully defending his belt once, Saludar lost his belt with a unanimous decision defeat in the hands of Wilfredo Mendez.
Paradero, on the other hand, has been hovering at the top 10 of the 105-pound division for quite some time. This will be his biggest fight against possibly his toughest opponent.
Saludar is 20-4 with 11 knockouts, while the 24-year-old Paradero is 18-0 with 12 knockouts.
After helping Saludar, Domingo will fly to Cebu and reunite with his uncle and trainer Michael Domingo along with his stable mates Jeo Santisima and Melvin Jerusalem.
“After my sparring here, I’ll go back to Cebu where I’ll be based,” he said.
Domingo, 13-1 with seven knockouts, along with fellow former ALA Boys Santisima, Jerusalem and KJ Cataraja recently inked a promotional and managerial contract with Sanman Promotions and ZIP Management, respectively. (EKA)