Salud Stays in Line by Winning Bout

San Diego junior featherweight Jesus Salud might be next in line for a world title shot against Marco Antonio Barrera. But at the Arrowhead Pond in front of a record Monday night crowd of 4,126, Salud appeared closer to retirement than a title shot.

Salud (59-9) won an unpopular 10-round unanimous decision over awkward left-hander Amador Vazquez of Panama. Salud looked like an old 35 as he was battered by Vazquez for most of the fight. In his defense, Salud took the bout on only eight days notice after Nestor Lopez pulled out because of an injury.

Salud intimated that he was forced to take the bout by the World Boxing Organization or he would lose his status as the WBO’s No. 1 contender. Bobby DePhilippis, Salud’s manager, said he advised his fighter not to take the bout because Vazquez (11-3-2) is left-handed and he is prone to head-butting.

Both concerns were warranted. Salud was head-butted several times and was constantly pounded by lead left hands. Salud won, 96-93, on Robert Byrd’s scorecard and, 95-94, on Chuck Hassett’s and Marty Denkin’s cards.

“He was catching me, but only on the hands and arms,” said Salud, who had deep gashes on both eyebrows. “I was landing more telling punches.”

Salud landed his best punch in the first round, a short left hook that sent Vazquez down. But he didn’t hurt Vazquez again until the ninth and the 10th rounds.

“You guys saw the fight,” Vazquez said through an interpreter. “You know who won.”

Salud, who is 1-5 in world title fights, is scheduled to fight Barrera in early July, but that might be delayed because of Salud’s cuts.

“He shouldn’t have the opportunity to fight [Barrera], but if he does, he shouldn’t last,” Vazquez said.

Featherweight Guty Espadas, ranked third by the WBC, won his eighth consecutive fight since losing a 10-round decision to Salud in December of 1996. Espadas knocked out Oscar Maldonado 2 minutes 35 seconds into the second round with three vicious shots to the body. Maldonado, of Merida, Mexico, was saved by the bell in the first round after he was knocked down by a Espadas overhand right to the temple.

Espadas never gave Maldonado (19-8-2), the 10th-ranked WBC contender, a chance to get started. He staggered Maldonado with several big left hooks early in the first round. After Espadas stopped Maldonado’s movement, he unloaded three digging lefts from which Maldonado never recovered.