Taduran gets precious Pacquiao pointers
IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran receives premium pointers from boxing legend Manny Pacquiao during a recent encounter at the Elorde Sports Center.
Photograph courtesy of Pedro Taduran
Pedro Taduran, the country’s one and only world boxing champion, recently got premium pointers on site from an all-time great.
The reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight titleholder admitted that he was almost shaking when Manny Pacquiao climbed the ring to impart his knowledge on the sport.
“He told me to improve my footwork because that’s very important during an actual fight,” said Taduran, who is penciled to defend his IBF 105-pound crown for the fourth time this December.
It wasn’t the first time Taduran received tips from the former pound-for-pound king.
“After I made my third defense in the US a few months ago, he also told me a few things buy this was the first time that I got instructions in person,” said Taduran, also a southpaw like Pacquiao, of the close encounter at the Elorde Sports Center (ESC) in Parañaque last Wednesday.
Pacquiao was on hand because the Polish leader Karol Nawrocki dropped by the famed training facility on Sucat Road that is owned by the late great Hall of Famer Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.
Nawrocki, who used to box in the amateurs, likewise hit the mitts with Pacquiao holding them and catching the big blows as well to the delight of the afternoon crowd.
Taduran, meanwhile, watched in awe as Pacquiao did a short clinic which he believes will be of big use when he returns to the ring before the year comes to a close.
“It’s not every day that somebody like Manny Pacquiao will share his knowledge of boxing. I feel so honored and proud,” said Taduran, who holds a 20-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 14 knockouts.
As he and his handlers await official word about his next fight, Taduran is hardly skipping a beat in his training at the ESC with chief trainer Carl Peñnalosa Jr. making sure he is in top form.