Taduran defense may be rematch
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 Feb 2025
IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran walked into the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Hotel to attend the San Miguel Corp. Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night with the title belt draped on his shoulder. Accompanying him were the brother-and-sister management team of Marty and Cucuy Elorde. Taduran and WBC minimumweight ruler Melvin Jerusalem were given Major Awards as the country’s only reigning world boxing titleholders. The Major Award is for athletes who made the largest impact in the Filipino sporting world the past year.
Aside from Taduran and Jerusalem, other Major Awardees were three-time world billiards champion Rubilen Amit, 2024 World Pool Association Predator 10-ball king Carlo Biado, the country’s 17th chess grandmaster and first since 2011 Daniel Quizon, World No. 5 amateur golfer Rianne Malixi, 2024 World Taekwondo junior champion in women’s -49kg Tachiana Mangin, 2024’s winningest jockey John Alvin Guce, horse of the year Batang Manda and horse owner of the year Secretary Ben Hur Abalos.
Taduran, 28, is on his second reign as IBF 105-pound world champion. He won his first crown, stopping Samuel Salva in 2019 but lost it on his second defense to countryman Rene Mark Cuarto on a unanimous 12-round decision in General Santos City in 2021. Taduran failed to regain the throne and lost to Cuarto in a rematch on a technical decision in Digos in 2022. He bounced back to post two wins in a row then dethroned Ginjiro Shigeoka on a ninth round technical knockout in Otsu, Japan, last July.
A plan for Taduran to stake his crown against countryman Ar-Ar Andales was scuttled and now, a rematch with Shigeoka looms in Japan in May. Andales isn’t ranked in IBF’s top 15. The highest-ranked IBF contender is Filipino Joey Canoy who’s No. 3. IBF’s No. 1 and No. 2 slots are vacant. Other Filipinos in the top 15 are No. 5 Jake Amparo, No. 7 Christian Balunan, No. 9 Vic Saludar and No. 10 Ian Abne. Shigeoka, 25, is ranked No. 4 and has a record of 11-1, with nine KOs and one no-contest. His Filipino victims were Amparo, Cuarto, Rey Loreto, Clyde Azarcon and Joey Lino. Taduran’s record is 17-4-1, with 13 KOs.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
DANGEROUS SUPER WELTERWEIGHTS FRANCISCO VERON AND ROIMAN VILLA COLLIDE IN “DO OR DIE” MAIN EVENT ON PROBOXTV’S FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
Fri, 14 Nov 2025Jeter Promotions Kacie Wheeler Back in Action on November 22
Fri, 14 Nov 2025Filipino GM Antonio beats German FIDE Master for stay in second place in Spain Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 14 Nov 2025ROUND 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Gathering Of Legends
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 13 Nov 2025Antonio draws with England's Arkell in Spain chess tiff
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 13 Nov 2025NBA announces the new format to All Star Game
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 13 Nov 2025Press Conference Notes: Xander Zayas & Abass Baraou Face Off Ahead of January 31 Title Unification Showdown in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thu, 13 Nov 2025Historic Turnout at the 1st Tigerhead Rapid Open Chess Tournament in Laos
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 13 Nov 2025The Hammer Returns to the Fray With a Bang
By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro, Wed, 12 Nov 2025Monzón and Coggi are new Argentina Boxing Hall of Fame members
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 12 Nov 2025GM Antonio moves to 2nd in Spain chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 12 Nov 2025Teflon Promotion to host Re:Play Volume 1 on November 22nd at The Alan Horwitz “Sixth Man” Center
Wed, 12 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 10 NOVEMBER 2025
By Eric Armit, Wed, 12 Nov 2025FLORES AND CORDINA PREDICT KO NIGHT IN STOCKTON
Wed, 12 Nov 2025Lightweight Prospect Charley Leigh Brown Added To Hunter Vs Frankham Card 5th December
Wed, 12 Nov 2025