Mighty Mouse lives up to moniker
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Mar 2021
Cuarto (L) and Taduran at the weighin.
Challenger Rene Mark Cuarto played the mouse in frustrating the cat then hung on with guile in the homestretch to dethrone IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran on a unanimous 12-round decision at the Bula Gym in General Santos City last Saturday. Cuarto repeatedly beat Taduran to the punch with his hit-and-run tactics, leaving the defending titlist flustered in trying to score a homerun. Called the Mighty Mouse, Cuarto lived up to his moniker.
But Taduran had his moments. When Cuarto went toe-to-toe briefly in the fourth round, Taduran took the upper hand. A left hook to the head and a left uppercut to the body hurt Cuarto whose eyes turned to his corner for advice on what to do. In the seventh, a left to the jaw buckled Cuarto’s knees as he held on for dear life. Whenever Taduran got close, it raised a danger signal for Cuarto. In the ninth, Cuarto appeared to deliberately butt Taduran during a clinch. Referee Rodel Garde issued a warning to Cuarto but ordered no deduction. Before the incident, Cuarto dropped to a knee and Taduran’s manager Art Monis insisted it was a knockdown although Garde ruled it a slip. In the 11th, Cuarto wrestled Taduran to the canvas as he struggled to buy time in catching his breath. In the final round, Cuarto again went down on what seemed to be a “deliberate” slip, stymying Taduran’s desperate attack to stem the tide.
Cuarto’s masterful counterpunching did the trick. He danced around the onrushing Taduran, swayed side-to-side, was hardly a standing target and darted in and out to throw off the champion’s rhythm. Cuarto fired shots from distance, landing clear blows and dazzled Taduran with 1-2-3 combinations. Taduran was the aggressor, constantly attempting to trap Cuarto into a corner or along the ropes. Cuarto, however, proved elusive and was busier for the most part. Judges Alberto Dulalas and Rodel Densing had it even after 10 rounds then awarded the last two to Cuarto. Judge Sabas Ponpon, Jr. gave Cuarto three of the last four rounds. The three judges turned in identical 115-113 scorecards for Cuarto. GAB chairman Baham Mitra, acting as IBF title fight supervisor at ringside, said “it was as close as it gets even if unanimous.”
Cuarto’s trainer Nonoy Neri said it came down to execution. He said the next step could be a rematch, if it’s ordered by the IBF, or maybe a unification duel with newly-crowned regular WBA minimumweight champion Vic Saludar. Monis said Taduran should’ve won. “Mga suntok (ni Cuarto) karamihan sampal,” he said. “’Di ininda ni Pedro. Malungkot si Pedro, lamang niya two to three rounds kay Cuarto. May intentional headbutt at knockdown na hindi binilangan. Napaluhod si Cuarto pero walang bilang.” The butt opened a one-inch gash on Taduran’s scalp. Monis sent a letter to IBF president Daryl Peoples yesterday to request a rematch. “We are not convinced of the decision,” he wrote. “We accept defeat sportingly and admit the fact of losing. This fight is considered a huge controversy because even typical fans knew that Taduran won.” Mitra said he has been advised of Monis’ request for a rematch.
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