Former world title challenger Froilan Saludar is set to make his return to Japan after a three-year absence, taking on 20-year-old former amateur standout Yuta Sakai in an eight-round bout on June 10, 2026, at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
Saludar's history in Japan
Saludar has fought in Japan five times, securing victories in two of those contests. His most recent outing in the country was a first-round stoppage of Keita Kurihara in 2023, which earned him the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation bantamweight belt. Prior to that, in 2019, he stopped Tsubasa Murachi in the eighth round to claim the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific super-flyweight strap. His other bouts in Japan ended in losses to Takuma Inoue, Ryoji Fukunaga, and Daigo Higa.
Saludar's last fight and motivation
The 37-year-old Saludar is eager to bounce back after suffering a fourth-round stoppage loss to Charlton Malajika last year in South Africa. That defeat marked his most recent fight, and he is determined to get back on track against a tough young opponent.
Sakai's rise in the professional ranks
Sakai is considered one of Japan's most promising prospects. He boasts an impressive amateur background, having won a gold medal at the 2022 International Boxing Association Youth World Championships in Spain. Turning professional in 2024, he immediately made an impact with a second-round stoppage victory over South Korean Ji Yong Kim. Last year, he defeated more experienced Thai fighters Thanyapat Seehanan and Boonrueang Phayom. Most recently, Sakai earned a unanimous decision win over Filipino Wesley Caga on March 24 in Tokyo.
Fight records
Saludar holds a professional record of 37 wins, 9 losses, and 1 draw, with 26 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Sakai, meanwhile, boasts an unblemished record of 7 wins with 6 knockouts.
