In May 1925, while on vacation in the Philippines, Pancho Villa ran low on cash and decided to defend the world flyweight (112 lbs.) title against countryman Clever Sencio at Wallace Field, Manila (now Luneta). This marked the first time the country hosted a world title fight involving two Filipino boxers and Villa didn?t disappoint as he retained the world title with a lopsided decision.
In addition to the Villa-Sencio fight, there have been two other All-Filipino world title bouts. In May 2018, Jerwin Ancajas defeated Jonas Sultan to keep his IBF junior bantamweight (115 lbs.) crown. A few months later, Donnie Nietes battled Aston Palicte to a draw in a showdown for the WBO?s version of the title. It is worth noting that these fights were held in California.
On September 7, at the Jurado Hall in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Filipinos Samuel ?The Silent? Assassin? Salva and Pedro ?Rattle Snake? Taduran will battle for the vacant IBF minimumweight (105 lbs.) crown. Believe it or not, this will only be the second time since the Villa-Sencio fight that the country is hosting a world title showdown involving two Filipino boxers.
Salva, who hails from Iligan City, totes an unbeaten record of 17-0 with 10 knockouts. He is ranked No. 1 by the IBF in the minimumweight (105 lbs.) division and was originally booked to take on champion Deejay Kriel of South Africa on August 23. Citing weight problems, Kriel relinquished the belt in July and moved up to the junior flyweight (108 lbs.) division. With Kriel?s abdication, the IBF called on the top two contenders available to dispute the vacant crown. The contenders turned out to be Salva and Taduran.
One of four children, Salva grew up in dirt poverty. At age 10, Salva?s parents broke up and he remembers eating in the house of their neighbors just to fill-up his empty stomach. Inspired by Manny Pacquiao?s success, Salva took up boxing and turned pro in January 2016.
Salva, 22, is taking on the durable Taduran for the IBF crown. A native of Libon, Albay, Taduran has a record of 13-2 with 10 knockouts. The fight will be Taduran?s second shot at the world title, having dropped a decision last year to WBC minimumweight champ Chayaphon Moonsri.
Salva-Taduran figures to be a tactical matchup. The southpaw Taduran owns an active right jab and moves his head well. Salva is more of a stand-up fighter, but he owns a mean right straight that is the bane of southpaw boxers.
Salva-Taduran will serve as the main event in the fight card put together by Manny Paquiao Promotions. The card, dubbed ?Manny Pacquiao Championship Boxing,? also features an IBF flyweight title eliminator bout between Filipino Giemel ?Pistolero? Magramo and Thai Komgrich Nantapech.
Magramo, 24, comes from a family of boxers. He is the son of Melvin Magramo, a former Oriental flyweight champion who boxed from 1990 to 2003. Giemel?s uncle, Ronnie Magramo, boxed for a decade (1989-99) and fought for the WBA and IBF minimumweight crowns.
Giemel has a record of 23-1 with 19 knockouts. The kid is exciting to watch in the ring; an infighter who works the body well and throws punches in bunches.
Giemel will be facing an acid test in Nantapech, the sturdy Thai who lost only by decision to Nietes in April 2017 in a battle for the IBF flyweight crown.
It has taken nearly an eon for the country to once again host a world title fight involving two Filipino boxers. It?s a good thing that Pacquiao?s MP Promotions has been very active in putting up fight cards. Salva-Taduran is taking place just a few weeks after John Riel Casimero retained the WBO interim bantamweight title with a devastating knockout win over Mexican Cesar Ramirez.
Pacquiao is giving back to the sport that made him an icon and you can say that Salva and Taduran are bent on making the ?Pacman? proud.
