Taduran bags IBF title; Pacquiao holds ground

MANILA, Philippines —  Pedro Taduran gave the Philippines another world boxing title after wresting the IBF mininumweight crown from unbeaten Japanese kingpin Ginjiro Shigeoka with a smashing ninth-round stoppage last night in Otsu City, Japan.

A heavy underdog, Taduran bombarded Shigeoka with punishing head and body shots, damaging the latter’s right eye and keeping the pressure all the way through.

The end finally came when a swarming Taduran pounded on Shigeoka, who couldn’t punch back and forced referee Steve Willis to wave it off with 10 seconds left in the round.

The 27-year-old pride of Libon, Albay (17 wins, 13 knockouts, four losses and a draw) became only the second Filipino world champion after WBC mini-flyweight kingpin Melvin Jerusalem.

Taduran previously held the same IBF belt from 2019 to 2021.

In Tokyo, Manny Pacquiao had problems dealing with Japanese fighter Rukiya Anpo’s significant height advantage, struggling to look good in their three-round exhibition Sunday at the jampacked Saitama Super Arena.

But Pacquiao took the six-foot-tall Anpo’s best shots and tried his best to land his own. The local bet, however, was hardly in trouble.

The Filipino icon, standing just 5-foot-5, often failed to get past Anpo’s guard, while the home bet was able to land some significant blows with ease – much to the delight of screaming fans who filled the 37,000-seat venue, which is famously known for hosting the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Anpo got down to business immediately in the opening round, landing a straight to Pacquiao’s face in the bout’s first significant blow. He was able to rock Pacquiao several times in the nine-minute fight.