Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Forgotten world champ


PhilBoxing.com



Rene Cuarto.

There are four reigning Filipino world boxing champions----WBC featherweight king Mark Magsayo, WBC bantamweight ruler Nonito Donaire, Jr., WBO bantamweight titlist JohnRiel Casimero and IBF minimumweight beltholder Rene Mark Cuarto. Boxing fans are familiar with Magnifico, Donaire and Casimero but who’s Cuarto?

The forgotten Pinoy world champ is 25, from Zamboanga del Norte and stands 5-2. He wrested the IBF 105-pound diadem from countryman Pedro Taduran on a close unanimous 12-round decision in February last year then won in a rematch to book his first defense, scoring two knockdowns before claiming a majority technical verdict in the seventh round. Cuarto is set to make his second defense of the crown against Mexican Daniel Valladares in Monterrey on May 27.

Cuarto’s trainer is Nonoy Neri who has worked the corners of Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Casimero. Neri said his most memorable fights were Casimero’s KO over Zolani Tete and Pacquiao’s disposal of Oscar de la Hoya. “May injury si Casimero sa training at one month, ‘di siya nag-sparring pero tinago namin yung nangyari,” he said. “Takot ako sa laban kasi ‘di 100 percent si Casimero pero sabi ko, puruhan mo lang si Tete at babagsak siya. ‘Yan ang nangyari. Si De la Hoya, kagalingan niya. Si Manny, umakyat ng timbang from 135. Takot ako baka matalo si Manny pero siya pa rin ang nanalo.”

Cuarto, who is married with a five-year-old kid, said he’s fighting to secure his family’s future. He’s fought once abroad, scoring a KO in China but in his second overseas outing, he’s not afraid to engage Valladares in his hometown. “Dapat nanalo si Taduran kay Valladares at ginawa nilang technical draw,” he said. “Kung tinalo ko si Taduran ng dalawang beses, tingin ko kaya si Valladares.”

Neri said he’s confident Cuarto will bring back the belt. He’ll be joined in Mexico by his assistant trainer Vincent Dayaganon. Cuarto said Valladares’ style is tailor made for him. “Sugod siya ng sugod kaya swak na swak sa akin,” he said. “Hangga’t kaya ko, patutulugin ko siya. Ibibigay ko ang lahat.”

Neri said he discovered Cuarto as an amateur in Digos in 2013 and brought him over to train at the MP Gym in Davao City. “Maganda ang basics ni Mark, may lakas, bilis, matapang,” he said. “Ang payo ni Senator sa kaniya ay dapat buo ang loob, maliit siya kaya kailangan mabilis, magalaw ang paa, magandang timing sa counter.” Neri has lined up several sparmates for Cuarto at the MP Gym where Jerwin Ancajas, Marlon Tapales and Aston Palicte used to train. Cuarto’s sparmates are Orlie Silvestre, Lienard Sarcon and Ruben Dadivas.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.