By Nick Giongco
Filipino champion Pedro Taduran easily conquered the scales on Friday (Saturday in Manila) as he gets ready to make the first defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight crown Sunday in Mexico.
In this file photo dated September 7, 2019,, Pedro Taduran celebrates after defeating Samuel Salva to bag the IBF minimumweight title at Juardo Hall, Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
Taduran came in at 104.6 lbs while Mexican challenger Daniel Valladares tipped in at 103.6. The division limit is 105 lbs.
Last September, Taduran won the title by stopping fellow Filipino Samuel Salva in a slugfest.
Valladares is best remembered for his stunning stoppage victory over touted Filipino Christian Araneta last year.
But Team Taduran is upbeat about returning to the Philippines with the IBF belt still strapped around Taduran’s waist.
Former world champion Tacy Macalos will call the shots in Taduran’s corner with Art Monis providing a helping hand.
Taduran, who hails from Albay province, is one of four Filipino world champions at the moment. The three others are Manny Pacquiao, Jerwin Ancajas and John Riel Casimero.
Taduran, a southoaw, enters the ring with a 14-2 slate with 11 KOs while the right-handed Valladares sports a 22-1 with 13 wins inside the distance.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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