Filipino fighters Samuel Salva and Pedro Taduran figure in a historic fight this Saturday when they slug it out for the vacant International Boxing Federation minimumweight crown at the Jurado Hall inside the Philippine Marine Corps headquarters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
International matchmaker Sean Gibbons, also the president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the Amelie Hotel that the Salva-Taduran duel will mark the first time in almost a century that two Filipinos are facing off in a world title fight on Philippine soil.
“The last time was when Pancho Villa defended the world flyweight title against Clever Sencio in 1925,” said Gibbons in the session presented by San Miguel, Braska Restaurant, Amelie Hotel, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The fight will be free to the public as an offering of Sen. Pacquiao, whose advocacy is to look after the welfare of Filipino sportsmen, according to Gibbons.
“This is an exciting time for Filipino boxers,” added Gibbons, who staged last Aug. 24 the dramatic interim World Boxing Organization bantamweight title clash starring John Riel Casimero at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate.
Salva boasts of a 17-0 record with 10 KOs, while Taduran, nicknamed Rattlesnake and a one-time world title challenger, sports a 13-2 ledger with ten KOs.
Also under MP Promotions are world champion Jerwin Ancajas and the fast-rising duo of Marlon Tapales and Jhack Tepora, both assured of world title shots before the year ends, said Gibbons, who is bringing in the IBF president Daryl Peoples to the country.