Salinas wins WBC Latino title

By Phil Doherty

Cuban super bantamweight Yoandris “El Niño” Salinas (10-0, 6 KOs) picked up the vacant WBC Latino belt last night in Greensboro, North Carolina with his 3rd -round knockout victory over Colombian veteran John Alberto Molina (28-18-3, 19 KOs). The 25-year old Salinas, whose nickname translates to “the kid”, seems to be growing up quickly under the promotional guidance of Dream Team Boxing Promotions. Three of Salinas’ last five opponents could not beat the count after the heavy-handed boxer-puncher decked them.

Dream Team Boxing’s dynamic duo–promoters Henry Rivalta and Carlos Rodriguez, count on an even bigger performance when Salinas performs in front of his home crowd August 12th at The Seminole Hard Rock Live in Hollywood Florida. They believe Salinas possesses all the necessary skills now to make a run in the 122-lb division, where three of the current world champions (Jorge Arce, Toshiaki Nishioka and Takalani Ndlovu) continue to age into their mid-thirties. Salinas envisions a future “reunion” of sorts with current WBA Interim Champion and fellow countryman Guillermo Rigondeaux (8-0, 6 KOs).

The two fought often in the amateurs back home in Cuba, with the older and bigger southpaw Rigondeaux taking the decisions. Times have changed according to Salinas, who states: “I was really just a kid then. Now that I’ve grown into a man, I know the outcome will be different.”

Fellow Dream Teamer, Cuban light middleweight Inocente Fiz (7-0,3 KOs) proved to be a nightmare for Marteze “Too Sweet” Logan (26-47-2, 6 KOs) en route to a unanimous decision victory on the same card. Fiz dropped Logan twice, scoring a clean shutout on the judges’ cards.

Rivalta and Rodriguez plan little “R & R” for their team heading into their Hard Rock “The Dream Begins” event, with most of their boxers on at least a monthly bout schedule. Rodriguez succinctly sums up the team’s strategy with an infectious grin, claiming: “Keeping our guys healthy, active and winning is what keeps the dream alive!”

Contact the author

July 17th, 2011

For all the latest boxing news, click here.