No holiday break for boxing champ

Everyone’s taking it nice and easy during Christmas time, that period of the year when even boxing’s hardest working individuals take a break from the hardships of gym work.

But not Pedro Taduran, the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion who keeps on showing up for training every day at the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque.

Even if there is no confirmation about his next fight, Taduran sees to it that he won’t get caught unprepared in the event that an all-important call comes.

“One of the worst things that can happen to a fighter is to go into a fight unprepared,” he said during a break in his training.

Taduran, one of just two Filipino world champions, swears being responsible is synonymous to love.

“Love of family,” the Bicol-born lefty said.

“If I take my training for granted, that means I am taking my family lightly as well.”

That sense of love translates to his obligation as head of the family, someone who provides and somebody who thinks about not just his future but his family above all else.

This is the main reason why when Taduran goes up to the ring to fight, you won’t see him in a bad fight.

“I have big dreams for my family and to achieve those dreams, I have to work (train) hard,” said Taduran, who could end up figuring in one of boxing’s biggest showdowns as early as March against Oscar Collazo in his native Puerto Rico.

Boxers are usually given permission by their respective handlers to head home to their families during Christmastime.

Given the nature of how Christmas is celebrated in the country, it is during Christmas that boxers enjoy their longest breaks.

Even those in the amateur ranks are often permitted to break camp and just report for training anew after the New Year festivities.

But this year, Taduran won’t enjoy that luxury.

If he goes against it, it will run counter to his belief that love is what matters.

“My dream of a better life depends largely on my outlook. Oftentimes, love is sacrifice,” he said.

Taduran insists that reaching ones’ dreams has a caveat.

One hopes of accomplishing something, realizing a dream through many things. But most of the time, that one thing that drives a dream is love.

Besides, haven’t we heard that popular line “love conquers all?”

Taduran lives by it.