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Wednesday, May 24, 2000
Salud at home
The former Waipahu resident
By Paul Arnett
would like nothing but to fight for
another championship in front
of his family and friends
Star-BulletinIT has been 11 years since Jesus Salud won a World Boxing Association title over Juan Estrada, and a decade since he had it stripped for refusing to defend his belt against Luis Mendoza in the challenger's home country of Colombia.
During the 1990s, the former Nanakuli resident had several chances to regain a world title, only to lose on the judges' cards. There was Welcome Ncita, who beat Salud to retain his International Boxing Federation belt in a championship bout in Italy in 1992.
A year later, Salud lost another shot at the IBF belt, this time to Olympic boxer Kennedy McKinney in Stateline, Nev. In 1995, Salud faced Antonio Cermeno in his home country of Argentina on short notice and lost the WBA championship on a unanimous decision.
A similar script was written for Salud when he traveled to South Africa in 1996 to face hometown hero Vuyani Bungu in an IBF title shot. Once again, he lost on a unanimous decision.
Salud even stepped up in weight class in 1997 to face World Boxing Union featherweight champion Kevin Kelley, who scored a unanimous decision in the fight held in Kelley's hometown of Albany, N.Y.
Having home-court advantage in a title bout is something Salud has never managed through the years. Pity, too, because the 37-year-old is 34-0 in the 50th state. Tomorrow night at Blaisdell Arena, he will look to extend that streak against Boyke Sillehu of Indonesia in a scheduled 12-round fight.If he does it, then the No. 1-ranked junior featherweight in the World Boxing Organization will have a mandatory title bout with champion Marcos Antonio Barrera, probably in September.
"I've been waiting to fight him for years and I'm finally going to, hopefully in September," Salud said yesterday at Kalakaua Gym. "He is perfect for me because he stands in there and fights. He doesn't run.
"If I can win one more world title, my dream is to come here and defend it in Hawaii. I've been wanting that to happen for so long. I'm so happy because I'm going to get one more shot to do it."
YOU can't help but wonder how many shots Salud has left. First of all, he has to get by Sillehu, who by all accounts, isn't a bad fighter. He is listed as the WBO's Intercontinental champion.
"I'm taking a risk fighting this guy," said Salud, who is 60-9 lifetime with 36 knockouts. "But I need some time in the ring."
Second of all, Barrera is a world-class boxer from Mexico. Defeating him will be a challenge, no matter where the fight is held.
"Bob Arum wants to handle that fight for me," Salud said. "He's going to make it happen, probably in Las Vegas. I'm a young 37. I've taken care of myself. I know I still have a lot of fight left in me."
Salud will have longtime local trainer Al Silva in the audience tomorrow night, who will cheer on his prodigy. Silva discovered Salud in a Waipahu gym a quarter-century ago. He also had a hand in helping local Olympic hopeful Brian Viloria.
"It shows Al has a good eye for boxing talent," Salud said. "It's great that Brian is building such a reputation as a tough fighter.
"I know he looked up to me and I'm so proud to see what he's doing now. He's helping inspire young boxers, which is great. I'll be pulling hard for him in the Olympics."
For now, Salud will be working hard to get himself ready for another shot at greatness. Still living in San Diego, Salud always enjoys returning to the island chain. His fan base here is still a strong one.
"The spirit I feel here just lifts me up in the ring," Salud said. "I hope I can pay them (my fans) back some day with a world championship fight."
