MANILA – Filipino boxer Pedro Taduran will put his International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight title when he faces Rene Mark Cuarto today at the Bula Gymnasium in General Santos City.
This will be the Libon, Albay-native Taduran’s second defense of the world championship he won at the expense of fellow Filipino Samuel Salva back in September 2019.
During his first title defense just before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic last year, Taduran kept the strawweight belt via a fourth-round technical draw against Mexican Daniel Valladares.
According to Taduran, he prepared hard for this title defense. He has been working out with his conditioning since October last year at the Hardstone Monis Boxing Gym in Bangar, La Union.
“This fight will be good to watch as we’re both aggressive,” Taduran said in an interview with Rappler. “As far as power is concerned we’re just about even, but I believe I’m slightly faster.”
The camp of Cuarto also had lengthy preparation as the Zamboanga del Norte-native fighter won’t allow his first-ever shot at the world boxing championship to go to trash.
“I really studied Taduran’s style and I’m sure Cuarto is going to make it hard for him,” said Cuarto’s chief trainer Nonoy Neri. “Cuarto won’t trade punches right away. But when he engages, he’s fast and his punches pack a wallop.”
The 24-year-old Taduran will enter the match with a 14-2-1 win-loss-draw ring record, including 11 victories by way of stoppages.
The 24-year-old Cuarto, on the other hand, had a much-experienced 18-2-2 boxing card, with 11 of his wins coming by way of knockouts.
The Taduran-Cuarto world title match, the sixth all-Filipino world championship bout in boxing history, will be the main event of “The Puncher” boxing card being staged by senator Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions./PN
