Taduran faces stiff odds in title defense
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 27 Feb 2021
Pedro Taduran (left) and Rene Mark Cuarto.
IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran realizes the odds are stacked against him in his second title defense against countryman Rene Mark Cuarto at the Bula Gym in General Santos City this afternoon but he’s not bothered by the challenger’s handlers promoting the fight, the judges coming from Mindanao and the 14-day quarantine after a long journey from his training camp in Bangar, La Union. Taduran’s focus is to score a knockout, not leaving anything to chance.
GAB chairman Baham Mitra will make sure proceedings are fair and square. He was requested by New Jersey-based IBF president Daryl Peoples to supervise the title fight at ringside. Former fighter Rodel Garde, 31, will be the referee and Brembot Dulalas, Sabas Ponpon, Jr. and Sergio Densing the judges. MP Promotions, represented by Cuarto’s trainer Nonoy Neri, is staging the event which will be split into two cards----the first to start at 9 a.m. with five fights and the second to begin at 2 p.m. with five more fights. The first part will feature a total of 30 rounds and the second, 44 rounds.
Taduran, a southpaw, arrived in General Santos City last Feb. 11 with manager Art Monis and trainer Tacy Macalos. Monis said despite the quarantine, Taduran has stayed in shape working out under strict safety conditions. “Ipakikita ni Taduran na karapat-dapat siya ang champion,” said Monis. “Kung sasabay si Cuarto, magandang laban at bahala na kung sino makatama ng maganda, siya ang tatayo. Kung tatakbo si Cuarto, kailangan i-pressure ni Taduran. Inaalala namin mga judges taga Mindanao kaya dapat KO ang panalo.” Cuarto is from Zamboanga del Norte while Taduran hails from Albay. Both are 24.
Neri said Cuarto will do what it takes to wrest the crown. “Handang handa na si Cuarto, sobra sa 100 percent,” he said. “Pinagaralan namin ang laban ni Taduran kay (Samuel) Salva noong kinuha niya ang korona. Si Salva, kulang sa body shot at kumbinasyon. Gugulatin ni Cuarto si Taduran, suntok na kabit-kabit, sundot sa katawan tapos step back. Counterpuncher si Cuarto at ‘di kami sasabay kay Taduran.” Neri said Cuarto will rely on hand and footspeed to fluster Taduran, borrowing from Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s style.
This will be the second world title fight between two Filipinos in the country this month and seventh in history. In yesterday’s weigh-in, Taduran scaled 104 pounds and Cuarto, 105. Taduran’s record is 14-2-1, with 11 KOs compared to Cuarto’s 18-2-2, with 11 KOs. Cuarto is the IBF’s highest-ranked contender at No. 3 as the No. 1 and No. 2 slots are vacant.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxers swing into action
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025UBO Youth World Title Showdown: Aliya Soomro Fights Monika Singh in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Battle of the Hawk Season 1 Finals on September 9; offers P600,000 to the winning team while P300,000 to the losing finalist team
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez Motivated for Saturday's Homecoming Against Ricky Medina
Fri, 05 Sep 2025SUNDERLAND PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS McCORMACK EYES BIG WIN
Fri, 05 Sep 2025THE ROAD TO REYES CUP AND MOSCONI CUP | 2025 PLAYERS QUALIFICATION
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Statement from World Boxing following reports in the French media about French female boxers at the World Boxing Championships
Fri, 05 Sep 2025GenSan Is Our Version of Los Mochis - The City of Boxing Champions
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 05 Sep 2025Iglesias vs. Shishkin: Unsigned Hype
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 05 Sep 2025EDDIE HEARN PROVIDES AJ UPDATE AS PAT McCORMACK NAMES THE BIG FIGHT HE WANTS NEXT IN NEW MATCHROOM BOXING PODCAST
Fri, 05 Sep 2025Team USA’s Path to Gold Set at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
Fri, 05 Sep 2025DACS signs up with Amesco Drug
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 05 Sep 2025India’s Monika Singh Battles Aliya Soomro of Pakistan for UBO Youth World 108 in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Sep 2025TEENAGE KICKS: WONDERKIDS LEO ATANG, ADAM MACA AND TIAH-MAI AYTON ARE READY TO LIGHT UP SUNDERLAND THIS SATURDAY
Thu, 04 Sep 2025150 to join Rotary Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 04 Sep 2025