PRIDE AND JOY: The Ring cites Taduran’s upset KO victory

Pedro Taduran was supposed to serve as cannon fodder for Ginjiro Shigeoka, the heavy-handed and unbeaten champion from Japan when they rumbled in late-July last year in Otsu City.

Instead, it was Filipino southpaw who came out on top by forcing American referee Steve Willis to step in with 10 seconds remaining before the end of the ninth round as Shigeoka, who was defending his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown, was being pummeled on the ropes by Taduran.

The stunning win, pulled off after Taduran’s relentless punching and display of steely nerves, was enough for the venerable Ring magazine to pick it among 2024’s biggest upsets, according to Viva Promotions, which has a stake in the IBF champion’s affairs.

His dramatic victory over Shigeoka, then ranked by the Ring as its top fighter in the powerhouse 105-lb division, earned him a nomination as well in the Comeback of the Year category.

Before taking on Shigeoka, Taduran had absorbed controversial defeats at the hands of Rene Mark Cuarto and the Japanese fighter’s camp may have thought that he was already in decline.

But Taduran showed everyone he was far from being done as he mauled the erstwhile Shigeoka, using crackling combinations to the head and body in the entirety of their bloody brawl before a stunned crowd at the Shiga Daihatsu Arena.

By the time the third man on the ring intervened, Shigeoka’s right eye was swollen shut and for safety precautions, the fallen fighter had to be stretchered out of the ring for further examination.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot for Taduran to make a choice defense against Filipino challenger Ar-Ar Andales in late-February or early-March.

In fact, “that’s our focus during our training,” Taduran said.

He was originally scheduled to face Chinese knockout puncher Zhu Dianxing last November in Jeju Island, Korea, but the Vietnam-based Korean promoter encountered financial problems in the runup to the fight.

Taduran reported back for training a few days ago after spending the holidays in his native Bicol.

Handling his daily grind at the Elorde Sports Center is Carl Peñalosa Jr.

Presently, Taduran joins fellow 105-pounder Melvin Jerusalem as the country’s world champions.

Jerusalem is the World Boxing Council titleholder.