By Nick Giongco
Defending champion Sho Kimura of Japan denied Froilan Saludar from making history Fridaynight in their World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight title fight in Qingdao, China.
Making the first defense of the WBO 112-lb crown, Kimura knocked out Saludar in the sixth round after falling behind in the first two rounds.
Kimura floored Saludar in the fifth round with a body shot and poured it on in the sixth when the challenger also attempted to turn the tide.
Saludar fell again and was counted out, putting an end to his bid to join brother Vic as the first Filipino world champs to reign at the same time.
Saludar started well by leaning on his set of skills but Kimura went to work in the third and had his foe on the defensive from then onwards.
Two weeks ago in Kobe, Japan, Vic took the WBO minimumweight title.
