It's not often a fighter with a "journeyman" looking record can become the #1 guy in a division, though according to Ring Magazine this weekend gives WBO champion Orlando Salido (39-11-2-1, 27) a chance to do just that, if he can get by the undefeated Miguel "Mikey" Angel Garcia (30-0, 26) in what promises to be an enthralling match up.
Whilst many may feel that unbeaten Indonesian Chris John is the Linear Champion (having taken the title from Juan Manuel Marquez back in 2006) it's also fair that John has done little to back up his claim of being the top man in the division whilst others, including Salido, have faced some genuine great competition. In fact many felt, after Yuriokris Gamboa's move to Super Featherweight that Salido was, buy rights, the top guy at the weight having scored notable wins over Juan Manuel Lopez (twice). Stylistically however Lopez was made for Salido, whilst a number of others at the weight at much less "made to order".
The 32 year old Salido of Mexico is as tough as old boots and an example of a fighter developing with age. He's been a professional since 1996 and despite starting his career 8-6-1 (4) with 5 T/KO losses he has really built his career on a solid work ethic and learning from his experiences. Amazingly despite those early stoppage defeats he's not been stopped in his subsequent 38 bouts, many of which have been in and around world level.
It wasn't until 2004 that Salido got his first taste of world title fighting when he lost an enthralling bout with Juan Manuel Marquez. Just 18 months after losing to Marquez, Salido would defeat Rogers Mtagwa in an IBF Eliminator before defeating Robert Guerrero for the IBF Featherweight title. Sadly for Salido he tested positive for a banned substance (which he hotly disputed having taken, and may very well have been a false positive) and the title was swiftly stripped from around his waist.
Almost 2 years after having his win over Guerrero scratched from the record book Salido was given another chance to claim the IBF title as he faced Cristobal Cruz for the vacant title. Against Cruz both men gave it their all throwing over 1000 punches a piece though Cruz narrowly took the split decision. A rematch in 2010 saw an improved Salido dropping Cruz twice to claim the title via clear unanimous decision to finally become a world champion.
Sadly for Salido his first title reign lasted just 4 months until he was beaten by Cuban sensation Yuriorkis Gamboa who unified his own WBA title with the IBF title then held by Salido. Thankfully however Salido didn't need to wait long for a chance to reclaim a portion of the world title stopping Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez just 7 months after losing to Gamboa. Since claiming the WBO title from Lopez, Salido has defended his title twice (stopping both Kenichi Yamaguchi and Lopez in a rematch) to reaffirm his place amongst the top guys at 126lbs.
In terms of Salido the fighter he combines relentless work rate, a huge heart, a solid chin and hurtful grinding power that can break a fighter either mentally or physically. Although he can be hurt, and dropped (in fact he's been dropped in 2 of his last bouts amongst numerous other knockdowns) he has a knack of getting back, biting down on his gum shield, recovering and coming straight back at a fighter trying to get revenge. He may not be the most skilled, the most patient or the most silky in the ring but he's one of the most relentless and stubborn fighters in the sport right now.
Whilst Salido has been fighting in an around the world level for quite some time this will be the foray in to that class for his challenger Miguel Angel Garcia, a product of his brother's (Robert Garcia) boxing gym in Oxnard California. The same gym that has seen the rise of the all action Brandon Rios.
Unlike many of his gym mates Garcia isn't an all out brawler but instead a patient and calculated counter puncher with real venom on his shots. He combines a cute boxing brain with excellent timing and fantastic shot selection which sees him landing at an alarming percent of his power shots. It's these clean counter shots and a solid defense that has seen him rising in the world rankings in recent years and scoring notable wins over the likes of Cornelius Lock, Olivier Lontchi, Matt Remillard, Bernabe Concepcion and the very tough Jonathan Victor Barros.
Despite having been a professional since 2006 Garcia is now just 25 and coming into his physical peak. He might be young but with 30 fights, 138 professional rounds and countless tough sparring sessions he's also very experienced and has seen pretty much everything before in the gym where he has continually been with top tier fighters (including not just Rios but also Kelly Pavlik and Marcos Maidana). This has helped him keep his head level in his biggest fights to date and may well help him against Salido.
Going into this bout Garcia has got numerous problems. Whilst he may be the younger, fresher guy and he may have a superior reach he also has a low work rate, he's never been in a live fight with a guy like Salido (who like Brandon Rios, doesn't know the meaning of the word quit) and he's never been the 12 round distance (having only twice gone 9 or more rounds). I dare say that although Garcia has seen everything this could be the difference between seeing it in a safe gym environment and a true ring war, and if Salido is still the same fighter he was when he stopped Lopez I dare say he eventually grinds down a slightly panicked Garcia in the later rounds. Sure Garcia doesn't give himself away like Lopez but his lack of 12 round experience does leave him looking very vulnerable here.
Prediction-Salido TKO11
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