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| Pedro Taduran stomped his dominance against Gustavo Lopez with a seventh-round KO. Jhay Otamias |
MANILA--It was a good Friday literally and figuratively for Pedro Taduran in the Los Angeles metropolitan area after successfully defending his IBF minimumweight championship by knocking out Mexican opponent Gustavo Perez.
Despite Perez showing heart amid three knockdowns, Taduran, the pride of Libon, Albay, made sure his fans back home will not get saddened on a Black Saturday as he finished the supposed 12-rounder at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California in seven.
Perez surprised Taduran with solid aggression in the first two rounds, but the latter found his rhythm in the third, unleashing sustained pressure and breaking through the former’s defense.
The Filipino champion took full control in the fourth round, scoring two knockdowns that shifted the momentum decisively in his favor.
Taduran continued his dominance with another knockdown in the sixth round before sealing the victory in the seventh, flooring Alvarez with a punishing body shot that prompted the referee to halt the bout at the 1:34 mark of Round 7.
The win marked Taduran’s third successful title defense and an impressive U.S. debut, improving his record to 20 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, including 14 knockouts.
He was awarded his title belt at ringside by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
Perez, on the other hand, lost for only the second time in his young yet already solid career against 16 wins, but both defeats came via knockout.
In the undercard, Jimuel Pacquiao scored a second-round knockout over Darrick Gates in a four-round special attraction.
The event was promoted by MP Promotions, headed by Sean Gibbons, in partnership with Viva Promotions led by Brendan Gibbons.
