MANDAUE City’s Weng Haya almost achieved the impossible but eventually fell to a champion.
Haya went to Mexico for a non-title bout against WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido but lost via an eighth-round knockout in Ciudad Obregon in Sonora.
Haya managed to knock down the Mexican twice in rounds three and four. The bell even saved the champion in round three.
But the Mexican champion recovered to stop Haya in round eight. Salido scored a knockdown and was punishing Haya when the bout was stopped.
Haya fought at the Hoops Dome last October and won an eight round unanimous decision against Eman Labanza of the Phil-Aust Gym.
His fight against Salido served as a tune-up for the Mexican champion.
Salido improved his record to 37-11-1 (win-loss-draw) with 24 KOs while Haya suffered his fifth career loss with 14 wins, 8 by KO.
Salido, who won the title by upsetting a previously undefeated Juan Manuel Lopez, was preparing for a planned rematch with Lopez next year.
Salido has defended his title once, stopping Japanese Kenichi Yamaguchi last July in 11 rounds. /correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.