Taduran makes May a month to remember

International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight kingpin Pedro Taduran delivered power punches in his successful title defense in Osaka, Japan to highlight a smashing campaign for Philippine bets in May.

Taduran took care of business as he beat via split decision Ginjiro Shigeoka, the same Japanese dynamo he stopped and wrested the crown from in July 2024.

The 28-year-old southpaw (18-4-1, 13 KOs) kept his stature as one of only two Filipino world champions — the other being World Boxing Council (WBC) counterpart Melvin Jerusalem — as he emerged victorious from this rugged rematch that led to Shigeoka sustaining an acute subdural hematoma.

His gutsy performance against a tough rival on hostile ground earned for Taduran the honor as the Philippine Sportswriters Association’s top achiever for the fifth month of 2025.

And the pride of Libon, Albay had good company in flying the country’s flag.

World No. 4 pole vaulter EJ Obiena scored a three-peat in the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, clearing 5.77 meters in winning his jump-off against Chinese Bokai Huang.

Annie Ramirez crowned herself two-time Asian Jiu-Jitsu champion in Amman, Jordan as she dominated over Kazakh Galina Duvanova in their duel for the women’s -57kg mint.

Future weightlifting champions also made their presence felt and collected 10 gold, three silver and three bronze medals in the IWF World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru.