Taduran keeps title via technical draw

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Pedro Taduran kept his International Boxing Federation minimumweight title after his furious, bloody encounter with Mexican challenger Daniel Valladares ended in a four-round technical draw yesterday in Mexico.

Taduran and Valladares engaged in a brawl that had the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate. But a severe cut over the right eye of the Mexican in the opening round ultimately led to the early stoppage.

Valladares sustained the nasty gash off an accidental clash of heads, and though it hardly slowed him down, the ring doctor deemed the wound too severe to proceed to Round 5 and advised the referee to stop the fight.

After surviving this gig on hostile territory, Taduran stayed perched on the IBF’s 105 lb division, maintaining the number of current Pinoy world titlists at four.

The 23-year-old Taduran is in the elite company of Sen. Manny Pacquiao (WBA welterweight super champion), Jerwin Ancajas (IBF super-flyweight boss), and JohnRiel Casimero (WBO bantamweight kingpin).

Taduran and Valladares came out of the opening bell charging, exchanging a heavy barrage of punches.

Their southpaw stances led to an accidental head clash midway into the initial round. But the wounded Valladares sucked it up and continued to go at it with the equally aggressive Taduran for three more rounds.

Taduran fired away with his hard lefts to the body and head as Valladares fought bravely and launched his own cracking shots at the champ.

The ring physician examined the cut again 40 seconds into Round 4 but allowed the fight to continue.  The protagonists went on trading power blows and were ready for more but the doctor, upon re-examining Valladares’ wound in between the fourth and fifth, pulled the plug.

Judges Jonny Davis of California and Ellis Johnson of Texa, both saw it even, 38-38, while John Basile of New York had it 39-37 for Valladares.

Because the fight did not go past four rounds, it was called a technical draw. Otherwise, the judges would have declared a winner via technical decision.

Taduran, of Libon, Albay, with 14-2-1 record with 11 KOs, may next consider giving compatriot Samuel Salva a rematch.