By Darryl John Esguerra
MANILA – International Boxing Federation (IBF) world minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran received a warm reception at the Senate of the Philippines, which honored him following his successful title defense last month.
Taduran, known as “Kid Heneral”, retained his IBF belt after besting rival Ginjiro Shigeoka in their grueling rematch on May 24 in the challenger’s home turf in Osaka, Japan.
The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution, citing the 27-year-old for his outstanding performance and resilience in the ring.
“Taduran’s victory has demonstrated his ability to compete at the highest level, further establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the boxing ring. His win did not only showcase his skill and talent, but also highlighted his potential to become a formidable force in the sport of boxing for many years to come,” the resolution stated.
Taduran was joined at the Senate by his manager Cucuy Elorde, son of Filipino boxing legend Gabriel “Flash” Elorde.
The Libon, Albay native fighter flaunted his grit and determination in his hard-earned split decision victory (118-110, 115-113, and 113-115) against Shigeoka. The win improved his professional record to 18-4-1, including 13 knockouts.
Following his win, Taduran is now seeking a unification bout against World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization titleholder Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico. (PNA)
