Taduran to defend world title belt vs Mexican foe

Sports

ONE of the only two current Filipino world boxing champions is set to defend his crown.

Pedro “Kid Heneral” Taduran will be making his US debut to defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight title against Mexican contender Gustavo Perez Alvarez at the Pechanga Resort and Casino.

Promoted by MP Promotions, the mega fight will be held on April 3 per an announcement by Viva Promotions’ Brendan Gibbons.

Taduran is marking his third world-title defense. He and Melvin Jerusalem, the current World Boxing Council minimumweight king, are the only active Filipino world boxing champions.

Taduran, who has been training in the United States for more than a month now, successfully defended his IBF belt last year.

The first title-defense was made against Japan’s Ginjiro Shigeoka. Taduran kept his belt in his second title-defense by beating Christian Balunan in an All-Filipino showdown.

The hard-hitting Taduran has 19 wins, 13 by knockout, four losses, and a draw.

On paper, Alvarez could be a huge threat for Taduran.

Riding on an eight-fight winning streak, the 27-year-old Alvarez has 16 wins with only one defeat. Five of his wins came via knockout.(CCM)