It is hard to believe that it took ninety-four years before the country hosted another world boxing title fight involving two Filipino boxers. The first All-Pinoy world title matchup in local soil took place in May 1925, when Pancho Villa defended his world flyweight title by outpointing countryman Clever Sencio before an overflow crowd at the Wallace Field (now Luneta), Manila.
History was made last Saturday, when local boys Samuel Salva of Iligan City and Pedro Taduran of Libon, Albay battled it out in Taguig City for the vacant IBF minimumweight crown. A series of ?fortunate? events, coupled by Manny Pacquiao?s determination to bring the fight here, paved the way for only the second All-Filipino world title fight in the Philippines.
Salva, ranked No.1 by the IBF in the minimumweight (105 lbs.) class, was originally scheduled to fight South African champion DeeJay Kriel in Manila on August 23. Pacquiao?s MP Promotions came up with the winning purse bid of $25,000 for the rights to promote the bout. Defending champion Kriel was supposed to receive 65% of the $25,000 purse bid ($16,250) while Salva was to receive 35% ($8,750).
In July, however, Kriel (15-1, 7 knockouts) vacated the IBF belt to move up to the light flyweight (108 lbs.) class. Kriel cited weight problems, but he was actually talking about unifying the throne before he abdicated. The guess is that Kriel didn?t like the idea of a minimal purse for a risky road fight against the then unbeaten Salva.
With the title vacant, the IBF picked the top two contenders to fight for the crown. The No.1 ranked Salva was an obvious choice while Taduran was lucky to be picked. Taduran was ranked only No.3, but he got the title shot because the IBF did not rank anyone at No.2.
Salva-Taduran turned out to be worth the wait. The southpaw Taduran came out like a house on fire, attacking and bombarding Salva with vicious left straights. Salva sought refuge along the ropes and tried to counterpunch his way out. It worked in the first round, when Salva caught a careless Taduran with a solid counter right hook.
Taduran went down on his knees, but was quick to get back on his feet and resume hostilities. In the second round, an unperturbed and relentless Taduran again attacked. Salva exhibited more ring savvy and appeared to be just one countershot away from scoring another knockdown.
Taduran, however, fought like a possessed boxer. He took Salva?s best shots and kept attacking. In the last minute of the third round, Taduran sent Salva reeling across the ring with an avalanche of punches. By the fourth round, the complexion of the fight had changed, with Taduran bombarding a bloodied Salva without remorse. Salva barely survived the fourth stanza.
True enough, Salva failed to answer the fifth round bell, giving Taduran the rousing stoppage victory.
Taduran, representing the Hardstone Morris Boxing Gym, improved his record to 14-2 with 11 knockouts. In August 2018, Taduran fought Thai Wanheng Menayothin for the WBC minimumweight crown and lost by decision. Taduran made the most of the second opportunity.
Taduran joins Pacquiao (?super? WBA welterweight champ), Nonito Donaire Jr. (?super? WBA bantamweight champ) and Jerwin Ancajas (IBF super flyweight champ) in the list of incumbent Filipino world champions.
More importantly, Taduran?s coronation came in Philippine soil and the exciting fight with Salva showed that, with excellent matchmaking, an All-Filipino world title fight can produce fireworks. Hopefully, it will not take an eternity before another title fight involving two Filipinos is held here.
Salva-Taduran was worth the wait and local fight fans are looking forward to more similar fights. Just a few weeks before the fight, MP Promotions also brought into local shores the WBO interim bantamweight title clash between champion John Riel Casimero and Mexican Cesar Ramirez. asimero outgunned Ramirez in an exciting shootout.
In Pacquiao?s MP Promotions, Filipino boxers have found an ally in their quest for ring glory. Philippine boxing definitely stands to receive a major boost in popularity if more world title fights involving Filipino boxers are staged here. Fortunately, this appears to be foremost in the agenda of MP Promotions.
