File – Pedro Taduran. Photo from Sean Gibbons’ Instagram account
SAITAMA, Japan – Pedro Taduran finally got one back for the Philippines in boxing.
Taduran defeated Ginjiro Shigeoka in Otsu on Sunday to win the IBF minimumweight title, ending a trend of Filipino boxers losing to Japanese boxers in world title bouts.
Albai, the pride of Ribbon, landed a ferocious punch on a helpless Shigeoka as he leaned against the ropes, scoring the upset in the ninth round and forcing the referee to stop the bout.
Read: Astrolabio loses first round to Japanese champion Junto Nakatani
Shigeoka started his professional career 11-0 but tasted defeat for the first time.
Taduran’s shock victory came just eight days after compatriot Vincent Astrolabio lost to Japan’s Junto Nakatani in the first round in Tokyo.
In the past seven months, former world champions Marlon Tapales and Jerwin Ancajas have both lost to brothers Naoya Inoue and Takuma Inoue, respectively.
READ: Melvin Jerusalem wants unification fight after world title win
The 27-year-old Taduran (17-4-1, 14 KOs), who reclaimed the title he lost in 2022, is the second reigning Filipino world champion since Melvin Jerusalem, who won the WBC 105-pound title last March.
Interestingly, Jerusalem won the title by defeating Shigeoka’s older brother, Yudai, by split decision in Nagoya, Japan.
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