Taduran puts crown at stake
Philippine boxing is slowly getting back on its feet.
Defending champion Pedro Taduran collides with challenger Rene Cuarto when he makes the second defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown Saturday, at the Bula Gym in General Santos City.
Coming exactly a week after another world title fight took place in Biñan, Laguna, the first to be held on local shores in the coronavirus pandemic era, Taduran and Cuarto easily made weight yesterday.
Taduran (14-1-2 with 11 knockouts) stepped in at 104 lbs while Cuarto (18-2-2 with 12 knockouts) came in at the division limit of 105 lbs.
After conquering the scales, Taduran, who hails from Albay, was handed a bowl of boiled beef soup, bananas, soft-boiled eggs and bread in order to recharge. Later, his manager Art Monis is getting his fighter another big bowl of beef bone marrow soup and chicken tinola.
Both are 24 years old with Taduran a southpaw (left-handed) and Cuarto, an orthodox (right-handed) fighter.
Taduran last fought over a year ago in Mexico just before the worldwide lockdown where he drew with Daniel Valladares while Cuarto sat out the rest of 2020.
The Taduran-Cuarto title bout will mark only the fifth time that two Filipinos are facing off with a world title on the line.
The first was in the 1920s when Pancho Villa battled Clever Sencio in Manila for the world fly championship. The second time came almost a century later when Jerwin Ancajas beat Jonas Sultan in Fresno, California, in May 2018.
The third involved Taduran, who defeated Samuel Salva in August 2019 in his winning bid to claim the IBF 105-lb belt In Taguig.
Taduran is one of four reigning Filipino world champions, the two — Ancajas and John Riel Ancajas — also have the Manny Pacquiao-owned MP Promotions as their official promoter.
Vic Saludar, who won last week in Binan, Laguna, is under Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde.