The winner of Saturday night’s collision course for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown starring Samuel Salva and Pedro Taduran has to do a mandatory defense next, international matchmaker Sean Gibbons said Thursday.
Gibbons, head of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, said that whoever emerges victory has a tough outing in his first defense.
Salva and Taduran lock horns at the Jurado Hall of the Philippine Marine Corps Base in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
“It’s already agreed upon that the winner makes a mandatory defense,” said Gibbons, who brought along IBF president Daryl Peoples and Ratings Committee chief over to watch the fight at ringside.
The Salva-Taduran clash will mark the first time in nearly 100 years that two Filipinos are slugging it out for a world title on local shores.
In 1925, flyweight champion Pancho Villa defended against Clever Sencio at Wallace Field (present-day Luneta).
“It’s going to be a landmark event for Philippine boxing and I assure you that are in for a treat,” said Gibbons.
Salva and Taduran hardly spoke ill towards each other but Gibbons feels they are all saving the violence for fight night.
“I am sure that they will just let their fists do all the talking on Saturday night,” said Gibbons. (Nick Giongco)