Orlando Salido came here this week to pick up his World Boxing Council fight-of-the-year award for his epic June 4 draw against super-featherweight champion Francisco Vargas at StubHub Center.

Next week, as he awaits word regarding approval for another apparent can’t-miss bout against Vasyl Lomachenko, Salido will likely burn some hours serving as an Uber driver.

“That’s what I do,” said Salido, 36, who lives in Phoenix.

Mexico’s Salido (43-13-4, 30 knockouts) maintains he doesn’t need the money from the Uber job to survive. But in the downtime of waiting for a fight deal to get done, he said it’s an enjoyable way to stay busy and get some pocket money.


Catching a lift to the airport with a former featherweight world champion at the wheel seems like an enhanced Uber service, but Salido says there’s no extra charge, and that some passengers aren’t even aware who he is.

“Not too many know me, but some? Yes,” Salido said. “Everybody who does know are surprised to see me, but at the same time, they don’t know how much money I’ve already made.”

Salido’s manager, Sean Gibbons, has presented a purse offer to Lomachenko’s promoter, Bob Arum, to earn in excess of $500,000, but Arum hasn’t responded yet. And HBO, which would likely televise the bout, hasn’t signed off on the rematch of Salido’s March 2014 victory over the former two-time Olympic champion who now stands as World Boxing Organization super-featherweight champion.

Salido said he drives his pickup truck for Uber “only when I feel like it.”


“What he’s accomplished with his money — he has multiple houses, a $700,00 apartment complex with 15 units he rents out, has a company that rents out the bouncy houses and barbecues for birthday parties … he’s an entrepreneur,” Gibbons said.

“One of Orlando’s friends once rented out a mechanical bull at a party. He saw how much money the guy made, and he got into it. He knows boxing is only going to last so long. You need income coming in when you’re not working, so all these different enterprises, like the Uber, generate income.

“And the houses he lets out, it’s good money. You don’t want landlord Salido coming by your house if you’re late on the rent.

“Orlando, what he’s done, he’s not going to be a pity story. That’s why when it comes to the Lomachenko fight ... pay him right. He’s not a desperate person.”


lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire