PEDRO Taduran knocked out challenger Gustavo Perez Alvarez in the seventh round to retain his IBF mini-flyweight crown in Temecula, California on Black Saturday (Manila time).
A left straight to the body sent the Mexican fighter down for the fourth time in the fight, and though Alvarez managed to stand up at the count of eight, referee Thomas Taylor decided the challenger had enough punishment and stopped the bout.
The end came at the 1:34 mark of the seventh round.
The K.O. win was a rousing U.S. debut for the 29-year-old Taduran, who was personally presented with his IBF title belt at ringside by no less than boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
It was the third successful title defense for the Filipino southpaw from Libon, Albay, who raised his record to 20-4-1 including 14 KOs.
He won the crown over former champion Ginjiro Shigeoka with a ninth round stoppage in 2024.
Perez Alvarez, 27, fell to a 16-2 with 5 KOs and saw his eight-fight win streak in four years come to an end.
The Mexican went down twice in the fourth as Taduran went to work by banging him in the body. In both times, Perez Alvarez beat the count.
In the sixth round, Perez Alvarez again hit the canvas on a head shot by the Filipino champion in what proved to be a portent of things to come a few minutes later.
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