One down, four to go

Pedro Taduran made sure Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) that the International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight throne won’t change hands in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Fresh from signing a five-fight deal with Salita Promotions, the Filipino southpaw outpointed Spanish mandatory challenger Brandon Moreno for his fourth defense at the Kiva Auditorium.

Relying on his relentless aggression, volume-punching and incredible stamina, Taduran won in the scorecards of Anthony Romero, 120-108, Mark Sanchez, 115-113, and Esther Lopez, 115-113, in the fight that was clearly won by the defending champion.

“I landed the cleaner and telling blows,” Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE in Pilipino after repulsing the challenge of the fleet-footed Madrid native. “I just didn’t want to let go of the title.”

But Taduran admitted that Moreno may have gotten the upper hand in the early rounds.

“He landed quite a few in the first four rounds but my punches were a lot harder than his,” said the 30-year-old from Libon, Albay, who sported a cut above his left eyebrow that was caused by an accidental clash of heads in the fifth round.

Even in the rounds Taduran felt that Moreno had stolen away from him, he still managed to connect solidly.

“It’s just that when my left straight landed, his head was moving away and that may have lessened the impact. If he wasn’t moving away, I am quite sure that Moreno would have gone down,” he said.

Taduran climbed the ring dangling the Philippines’ lone world title.

While the erstwhile undefeated Moreno may have his moments, he was never in the position of threatening Taduran’s reign.

For most of the 12-rounder, Moreno was always on the defensive and fought like a VIP who sat ringside.

“I was surprised that he was there so I tried to fight well,” said Taduran, who was assisted in the corner by the tested tandem of Joven Jimenez and Jerwin Ancajas after original trainer Carl Peñalosa was unable to renew his US visa.

That “he” turned out to be former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.

So, like Mayweather, the 33-year-old Moreno ducked and evaded Taduran’s two-fisted assault as if he was allergic to getting hit. At one time, he almost did a pirouette as Taduran pressed the attack.

Whenever Taduran closed in, Moreno resorted to holding to prevent the IBF 105-pound champion from inflicting damage.

The victory boosted Taduran’s win-loss-draw record to 21-4-1 with 14 knockouts while the defeat — Moreno’s first — dropped his ledger to 16-1-0 with five knockouts.

What made the win extra-special is the fact that Taduran just inked a multiple-fight pact with Salita Promotions.

Since he is now aligned with the Brooklyn-based outfit, Taduran expects to have a busy 2027.

In fact, the ever-influential Las Vegas fight figure Sean Gibbons, who brokered the deal, expects Taduran to defend the crown for the fifth time in February or March.

“The contract is for five fights, including the one with Moreno,” Gibbons said.

It certainly looks like Taduran’s going to be busy as a bee next year.