Orlando Salido: This Fight has the Makings of a War

Four time world champion and two-division world champion Orlando "Siri" Salido (44-13-13-4, 31 KOs) of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico is set to headline this Saturday as he will take on Miguel “Mikey” Roman ( 57-12-31 KOs) of Chihuahua, Mexico at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas live on HBO Boxing After Dark.

"December 9, against Miguel Roman, I will give the fans another fight to remember. This fight has the making of a war," Orlando Salido told Southern California Boxing.com "It's a competitive fight between 2 Mexican warriors," Salido added.

Having trained in his hometown of Ciudad Obregon with his longtime trainer Santos Moreno and newly added conditioning trainer Guillermo Heredia, Salido wrapped up a three month training camp as he comes well prepared to take on his fellow Mexican rival.

"After 22 years is good to make some changes, and I feel I am going to be at my best physically and prepared to give the fans and everyone else watching us on HBO the best fight possible," Salido on camp. "I feel good we have done a good job just training hard," Salido as he prepares for Roman.

His opponent Miguel Roman, a veteran of over 60 fights will have his 70th fight when he takes on Salido. Roman rebounded from last year’s knockout defeat to former world champion Takashi Miura with a TKO over Nery Saguilan.

"He likes to fight inside and I guarantee we will trade. The fans are gonna win this one," Salido said about his opponent.

After being out of the ring for nearly a year, since his June 2016 draw to former WBC champion Francisco Vargas. Salido returned to the ring this past May, winning a technical decision over Aristedes Perez. The win marked his first win since September 2014 battle with Tersak Jandaeg.

"I am just ready to get back in the ring and there is more glamour when fighting in the fight capital of the world which is Las Vegas," Salido said.

Just a few months ago in September, the mega showdown between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Gennady "GGG" Golovkin took place in Las Vegas as the two fighters fought to a draw in the most highly anticipated fight of the year. Unfortunately, tragedy struck a few weeks later in Las Vegas as a gunman opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Now Salido, an individual that has been through many obstacles in his life and triumph will be Vegas Strong.

"It was such a tragedy. I found out right away, it was sad to hear how many were hurt and died," Salido commented on the tragedy. "I'm really thankful for those organizing this event. For considering me to be the first major fight back in Las Vegas,"

This fight will mark Salido's first time headlining in Las Vegas as the Mexican veteran made his Las Vegas debut back in May of 2001 with a record of 11-7-1 as he fought 3 times in Vegas that year in May, June, and July.

"I have always been the part B of the many main events in the biggest fights throughout my career," Salido explained.

Salido returned to Vegas in September of 2004 as he took on Juan Manuel Marquez in his first shot at a world title dropping a unanimous decision to the future hall of famer. In his second shot at a world title Salido schooled Robert Guerrero for twelve rounds as he won a decision over the champ. However that was overshadowed following the fight after Salido failed his post fight drug test.

"I feel that I am passed the phase of my career. I have proved everyone wrong since then," Salido said.

Salido would win his first world title in 2010, with a unanimous decision over fellow Mexican Cristobal Cruz, winning the IBF featherweight title. One year later Salido scored back to back knockouts over than previously undefeated WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez who was on his way to becoming a superstar, winning his second world title. Since then Salido has faced Mikey Garcia, holds a win over top pound for pound fighter Vasyl Lomachenko and battled to a draw with fellow Mexican Francisco Vargas.

There is no question that Salido has definitely made a name for himself after nearly falling to journeyman status. In recent years Salido has had multiple options and coming into this fight as well. Originally scheduled to take on WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt, the next option was a possible rematch with former world champion Francisco Vargas, or another rematch with Vasyl Lomachenko.

“I was hoping to be facing Berchelt in this fight, but unfortunately he got hurt and now I must defeat a tough fighter Roman to get the opportunity to fight him for the WBC title," Salido on his fight with Berchelt being called off. "We were supposed to go against Vargas but that fell. Berchelt got hurt and Vargas didn't want the fight. “I have no problem fighting Lomachenko again, but they need to remember that I already beat him and I don’t need to do that again. I have plenty of options. We will see what happens in this fight. I will see where I go after,"

Salido vs. Roman will be a scheduled ten round super featherweight bout as Salido promises to once again deliver.

"I have prepared for a great fight. This will be a toe to toe fight and like I said it before the fans will come out the winners," Salido concluded.

Follow Miguel on Twitter @MigMaravilla