WBO featherweight world champion Orlando Salido (37-11-2, 25 KOs) survived two knockdowns and a real scare to eventually stop Filipino Weng Haya (14-5, 8 KOs) in the eighth round of a scheduled 10-round non-title bout in Mexico.
For the first 2 3/4 rounds, Haya was completely on his bike, almost flat-out running from the stalking Salido. Then, with seconds left in the third round a perfectly-timed counter left hand dropped Salido hard. The featherweight titlist beat the count, but he was clearly dazed and saved by the bell.
Salido came out for the fourth, still on unsteady legs, and was dropped again, this time by a straight left hand.
The crafty veteran was able to fall back and rely on his deep knowledge of boxing fundamentals to play defense while regaining his composure. By the fifth, Salido had his legs back under him and began to box a more sound, intelligent fight.
The end of the contest came in the eighth, when a shot from Salido sent Haya to the ropes, obviously hurt. Salido rushed his injured opponent and dropped him. Haya would beat the count, but would be ruled unable to continue by the referee.
In the co-feature, former super flyweight world titlist,Cristian Mijares (44-6-2, 20 KOs), making his junior featherweight debut, stopped Alejandro Valdez (25-7-2, 19 KOs) at the 1:24 mark of the third round.
In the third, Mijares landed a combination that sent Valdez hard to the canvas. Somehow, the former world title challenger managed to beat the count and make it to his feet, but only long enough to sustain a few more heavy shots. At the end, it was a foot race between Valdez’s corner and the ref to save a helpless Valdez.
