Cutting crew: Taduran gets solid support in Vegas training

All hands on deck.

That’s the situation over at Pedro Taduran’s training camp in Las Vegas as soon as the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion arrived there from Manila for his fourth defense of the title on 7 November in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Taduran is slated to risk the IBF 105-pound throne against mandatory challenger Brandon Moreno of Spain at the Kiva Auditorium as part of a show being put up by the Brooklyn-based Salita Promotions.

Sean Gibbons, who promotes Taduran, struck a deal with the New York outfit to have the pint-sized Bicol-born banger showcase his wares before the US audience for the second straight time.

“Everyone’s lending a hand to make sure Pedro gets what he needs,” Gibbons told DAILY TRIBUNE on Monday from Saudi Arabia where he is accompanying another Filipino boxer, Carl Jammes Martin, for a fight this weekend.

Gibbons mobilized his troops as Taduran’s chief trainer Carl Peñalosa is still in Manila renewing his US visa.

Peñalosa, brother of the legendary Peñalosa brothers Dodie Boy and Gerry, is expected to arrive in time in America for the fight.

Assisting Taduran in his daily grind at the Knuckleheads Boxing gym are the Three Js — trainer Joven Jimenez, former world champion Jerwin Ancajas and fighter Jino Rodrigo — whom Gibbons have requested to help the champion.

In Peñalosa’s temporary absence, Jimenez has stepped up as a worthy replacement as he marveled at Taduran’s strength during their mitts session.

A noted nutritionist has also provided help to Taduran so he can shed off excess baggage comfortably.

Brendan Gibbons, the son of Sean, is serving as camp coordinator, reenacting a role he has mastered in just a short time.

Jimenez is Ancajas’ longtime trainer while Rodrigo has been residing in the US for years and is often spotted assisting Filipino boxers who have scheduled bouts in America.

Taduran, 29, arrived in the US from Manila last Wednesday after training at the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque with his co-managers Marty and Cucuy monitoring closely.

Holding a 20-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 14 knockouts, Taduran last fought in April in Temecula, California, where he mauled the game and gutsy Mexican Gustavo Perez Alvarez in the seventh round.

Moreno, originally from Madrid, packs an unbeaten mark of 16-0-0 with five knockouts.