LUIS Alberto ‘Pan Blanco’ Ríos of Panama knocked out Felipe Salguero of México in the 11th round of their IBF eliminator fight held yesterday at the Roberto Durán Arena in Panama.
The win installed Rios as the IBF No. 1 jr. flyweight contender and the mandatory challenger to Filipino IBF jr. flyweight world champion Jhonriel Casimero of the Omega Gym of Cebu City.
It was a close and action-packed contest. Rios (18W-1L-1D, 12 KOs) recovered from a fifth round knockdown to drop Salguero (16W-4L-1D, 11 KO) with an uppercut at the 1:26 mark of the 11th.
Salguero lost by unanimous decision to Donnie Nietes in his bid to take the ALA boxer’s WBO world jr.flyweight title at the Resorts World in Pasay City last June. Rios also holds the WBC Latino lt.flyweight title and has fought all of his pro fights in Panama. /Correspondent Rene Bonsubre Jr.